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table definition

ta·ble (bəl)

noun

  1. Obsolete a thin, flat tablet or slab of metal, stone, or wood, used for inscriptions
    1. a piece of furniture consisting of a flat, horizontal top usually set on legs
    2. such a table set with food for a meal
    3. food served at table; feasting as entertainment
    4. the people seated at a table to eat, talk, etc.
    5. a meeting at which issues are discussed, negotiations are conducted, etc. they brought fresh offers to the table
  2. any of various large, flat-topped pieces of furniture or equipment used for games, as a working surface, etc. pool table, examining table
    1. a compact, systematic list of details, contents, etc.
    2. a compact arrangement of related facts, figures, values, etc. in orderly sequence, and usually in rows and columns, for convenience of reference the multiplication table
  3. tableland
  4. the flat upper surface of certain styles of faceted gems
  5. Anat. the hard inner or outer layer of the bony tissue of the skull
  6. Archit.
    1. any horizontal, projecting piece, as a molding or cornice; stringcourse
    2. a plain or decorated rectangular piece set into or raised on a wall; panel
  7. Backgammon either of the two folding leaves of a backgammon board

Etymology: OFr < L tabula, a board, painting, tablet < ? IE *taldhla < base *tel-, flat, a board > OE thille, thin board, flooring

adjective

  1. of, for, or on a table
  2. fit for serving at table table salt

transitive verb tabled -·bled, tabling -·bling

  1. Obsolete to make a list or compact arrangement of; tabulate
  2. to put on a table
  3. ☆ to postpone indefinitely the discussion or consideration of (a legislative bill, motion, etc.)
  4. Brit. to submit for discussion or consideration
table Idioms

at table

at a meal

on the table

☆ postponed or shelved: said of a bill, etc.

the tables

laws, as the Ten Commandments or ancient Roman codes, inscribed on flat stone slabs

turn the tables

to reverse completely a situation as it affects two opposing persons or groups

under the table

Informal
  1. covertly, as a bribe
  2. drunk to the point of unconsciousness

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
table Synonyms

table

n.

  1. A piece of furniture

    desk, pulpit, stand, board, counter, slab, dresser, bureau, lectern, sideboard, washstand, sink, horse, tea wagon, trivet; see also furniture.

    Types of tables include: writing table, secretary, dining table, kitchen table, card table, drafting table, vanity table, operating table, altar table, retable, end table, coffee table, tea table, drop-leaf table, laboratory table, library table, refectory table.

  2. A statement in tabulated form

    schedule, digest, synopsis, report, record, chart, register, spreadsheet, compendium, index, appendix, table of contents, tabular illustration, statistics; see also summary.

  3. Food

    meat and drink, things to eat, spread; see food, meal 2.

turn the tables*
under the table*
  1. covertly, surreptitiously, not obviously; see secretly.

  2. into a stupor, dead-drunk, out cold; see drunk.


table

v.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

table Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dine: The Dining Area has the benefit of patio doors overlooking the rear garden, dining table with 4 chairs.

Adjective modifier

  • periodic: INTRODUCTION The chemistry of group VII is dominated by the high effective nuclear charge on the right of the periodic table.

Modifies a noun

  • tennis: Table tennis Information about local table tennis clubs can be found in our Sports Directory.

Noun used with modifier

  • league: For details of York's performance in several recent league tables, click on the links below.

Preposition: of

  • content: The service e-mails you the tables of contents of the latest issues of journals you have chosen from a list of 20,000 titles.
table usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

table quotes

   The L ismy shepherd; Ishall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Yea, though I walk through the valleyof theshadow of death,I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the L for ever.

-Bible (Old Testament)

   We do not presume to come to this thyTable,O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thyTable.But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

-Book of Common Prayer

Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

-Book of Common Prayer

table quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"table." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/table>

APA Style

table. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/table

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