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.