Originally, an alcoholate was the crystalline form of a salt in which alcohol took the place of water of crystallization, such as [SnCl(OCH)·CHOH] and CHNO·CHOH. However this denomination should not be used anymore for the ending -ate often occurs in names for anions.
The second meaning of the word is that of a tincture, or alcoholic extract of plant material.
The third, and more usual meaning of the word is as a synonym for alkoxide— is the conjugate base of an alcohol.