n.
- a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface for eating, writing, or working at.
▸food provided in a restaurant or household.
- a set of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns.
▸a league table.
▸
(tables)
multiplication tables.
- Architecture a flat, typically rectangular, vertical surface.
▸a horizontal moulding, especially a cornice.
▸a slab bearing an inscription.
- a flat surface of a gem.
▸a cut gem with two flat faces.
- each half or quarter of a folding board for backgammon.
- Bridge the dummy hand.
v.
- Brit. present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting.
- chiefly US postpone consideration of.
- Sailing strengthen (a sail) by making a hem at the edge.
Phrase
- bring something to the table
contribute something of value to a discussion, project, etc. - lay something on the table
- make something known so that it can be discussed.
- chiefly US postpone something indefinitely.
- on the table
offered for discussion. - turn the tables
turn a position of disadvantage relative to someone else into one of advantage. - under the table
- informal very drunk.
- another term for under the counter (see counter1).
Derivative
- tableful n.
(pl. tablefuls)
.
Etymology
OE tabule ‘flat slab, inscribed tablet’, from L. tabula ‘plank, tablet, list’, reinforced in ME by OFr. table.