As important portion of oceanic crust,oceanic plateaux are geomorphic and tectonic units with large areas,extreme thicknesses and ultramafic-mafic components. Oceanic plateaux are distributed widely in oceanic plates,especially in Pacific and Indian oceans. Because of the wide distribution and genetic relationship with the mantle plume,ocenic plateaux will provide a significant window on knowledge of the geological processes in the depths of the earth. Based on a careful literature review,this paper firstly gives a comprehensive introduction on oceanic plateaux from the aspects of global distribution,basic characteristics (i. e.,output size,formation time,rock composition,structure and geochemistry),genetic mechanism,and main discriminants that can be used to help the identification of oceanic plateaux in the geological record. Then we will analyze and discuss the main geodynamic implications of oceanic plateaux and the potential influences on the earth surface system. The main geodynamic implications of oceanic plateaux mainly involve five aspects,specifically including resisting subduction of oceanic plate,bringing about subduction retreat and flip, plateau accretion and continental growth,creating flat subduction of oceanic plate and continent marginal uplift,and causing the initiation of plate tectonic regime. The influences on the earth surface system largely include four aspects: bringing about global sealevel rise,causing global warming and the greenhouse effect,creating oceanic anoxia and black shale deposits,and inducing mass extinction and rapid alteration. Besides,we will introduce the basic characteristics of Meso-Tethyan oceanic plateau in central Tibet and explore its geodynamical implications for the development of the Meso-Tethys and the Bangong-Nujiang suture as well as the initial elevation of the Tibetan Plateau.