ˈteɪbl n. & v. --n. 1 a
piece of
furniture with a flat top
and one or
more legs,
providing a
level surface for eating,
writing, or
working at, playing games
on, etc. 2 a flat surface
serving a specified
purpose (altar table;
bird table). 3 a
food provided in a
household (keeps a
good table). b a
group seated at table for
dinner etc. 4 a a set of facts or figures systematically displayed,
esp. in columns (a table of contents). b
matter contained in
this. c =
multiplication table. 5 a flat surface for working on or for
machinery to
operate on. 6 a a
slab of
wood or
stone etc. for
bearing an
inscription. b matter inscribed on this. 7 =
TABLELAND. 8 Archit. a a flat usu.
rectangular vertical surface. b a
horizontal moulding, esp. a
cornice. 9 a a flat surface of a
gem. b a
cut gem with
two flat faces. 10
each half or
quarter of a folding
board for
backgammon. 11 (prec. by the) Bridge
the dummy hand. --v.tr. 1
bring forward for
discussion or
consideration at a
meeting. 2
postpone consideration of (a matter). 3 Naut.
strengthen (a sail) with a
wide hem. øat table
taking a meal at a table. lay on the table 1
submit for discussion. 2 postpone
indefinitely. on the table offered for discussion. table
knife a knife for
use at meals, esp. in eating a main
course. table
licence a licence to
serve alcoholic drinks
only with meals. table
linen tablecloths, napkins, etc. table manners
decorum or
correct behaviour while eating at table. table-mat a mat for protecting a
tabletop from hot dishes, etc. table
salt salt
that is powdered or
easy to
powder for use at meals. table
talk miscellaneous informal talk at table. table
tennis an
indoor game based on lawn tennis, played with
small bats and a ball bounced on a table divided by a
net. table
wine ordinary wine for drinking with a meal.
turn the tables (often foll. by on)
reverse one's relations (with), esp. by
turning an
inferior into a
superior position (orig. in backgammon).
under the table colloq.
drunken after a meal. øøtableful n. (pl. -fuls). tabling n. [ME f. OF f. L tabula
plank,
tablet, list]