round table

¹

Also roundtable

noun

1. a number of persons gathered together for conference, discussion of some subject, etc., and often seated at a round table.

2. the discussion, topic of discussion, or the conference itself.

3. Arthurian Legend.,  Round Table,

   1. the table, made round to avoid quarrels as to precedence, about which King Arthur and his knights sat.

   2. King Arthur and his knights.

round-table

²

[round-tey-buhl]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a conference, discussion, or deliberation in which each participant has equal status, equal time to present views, etc..

   round-table discussions.

Round Table

¹

noun

1. (in Arthurian legend) the table of King Arthur, shaped so that his knights could sit around it without any having precedence

2. Arthur and his knights collectively

3. one of an organization of clubs of young business and professional men who meet in order to further social and business activities and charitable work

4. (in New Zealand) an organization of businessmen supporting policies of the New Right

round table

²

noun

1. 1. a meeting of parties or people on equal terms for discussion

   2. ( as modifier )

      a round-table conference

Word History and Origins

Origin of round table¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Origin of round table²

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

I know what she means—round tables are ideal for Autumn so she can see everyone, but oval and rectangular tables make it hard to understand dinner conversation.

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He sat at one of the big round tables just watching the people at the other tables happily jabber away.

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Perhaps not surprisingly, Carr later looked a bit edgy about the upcoming round table, telling Cat Burns his Shakepearean moment was "so obvious".

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Bonnar - a Faithful - was banished at the beginning of episode six, after a tense round table which ended in deadlock.

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To audible gasps, Nick Mohammed later admitted at the round table that he and Joe Marler had colluded by sabotaging the final round of the chess game so that Nick's team lost.

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