A saucer's a small type of dishware specifically for use with and for supporting a cup – a cylindrical cup intended for coffee or a half-sphere teacup for tea. Additionally, the saucer's a distant cousin to the plate. The saucer has a raised center with a depression sized to fit a mating cup. No longer used for this purpose, the saucer's useful to protect surfaces from possible damage due to the heat of a cup, and to catch overflow, splashes, and drips from the cup, so protecting both tab… (More on Saucer)