table

American  

[tey-buhl] / ˈteɪ bəl /

noun

• tables
  plural

1. an article of furniture consisting of a flat, slablike top supported on one or more legs or other supports.

   a kitchen table;

   an operating table;

   a pool table.

2. such a piece of furniture specifically used for serving food to those seated at it.

3. the food placed on a table to be eaten.

   She sets a good table.

4. a group of persons at a table, as for a meal, game, or business transaction.

5. a gaming table.

6. a flat or plane surface; a level area.

7. a tableland or plateau.

8. a concise list or guide.

   The table of contents in the front of the book includes chapter names and page numbers.

9. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, or combinations of them, as in parallel columns, to exhibit a set of facts or relations in a definite, compact, and comprehensive form; a synopsis or scheme.

10. Astronomy. Table, the constellation Mensa.

11. a flat and relatively thin piece of wood, stone, metal, or other hard substance, especially one artificially shaped for a particular purpose.

12. Architecture.

    1. a course or band, especially of masonry, having a distinctive form or position.

    2. a distinctively treated surface on a wall.

13. a smooth, flat board or slab on which inscriptions may be put.

14. tables,

    1. the tablets on which certain collections of laws were anciently inscribed.

       the tables of the Decalogue.

    2. the laws themselves.

15. Anatomy. the inner or outer hard layer or any of the flat bones of the skull.

16. Music. a sounding board.

17. Jewelry.

    1. the upper horizontal surface of a faceted gem.

    2. a gem with such a surface.

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verb (used with object)

• tables,
  present (3rd person singular)
• tabled,
  past participle,  past
• tabling
  present participle

1. to place (a card, money, etc.) on a table.

2. to enter in or form into a table or list.

3. Parliamentary Procedure.

   1. Chiefly U.S. to lay aside (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for future discussion, usually with a view to postponing or shelving the matter indefinitely.

   2. British. to present (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for discussion.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for use on a table.

   a table lamp.

2. suitable for serving at a table or for eating or drinking.

   table grapes.

idioms

1. wait (on) table, to work as a waiter or waitress: Also wait tables.

   He worked his way through college by waiting table.

2. on the table,

   1. U.S. postponed.

   2. British. submitted for consideration.

3. turn the tables, to cause a reversal of an existing situation, especially with regard to gaining the upper hand over a competitor, rival, antagonist, etc.: We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.

   Fortune turned the tables and we won.

   We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.

4. under the table,

   1. drunk.

   2. as a bribe; secretly.

      She gave money under the table to get the apartment.

table British  

/ ˈteɪbəl /

noun

1. a flat horizontal slab or board, usually supported by one or more legs, on which objects may be placed

2. 1. such a slab or board on which food is served

      we were six at table

   2. ( as modifier )

      table linen

   3. ( in combination )

      a tablecloth

3. food as served in a particular household or restaurant

   a good table

4. such a piece of furniture specially designed for any of various purposes

   a backgammon table

   bird table

5. 1. a company of persons assembled for a meal, game, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      table talk

6. any flat or level area, such as a plateau

7. a rectangular panel set below or above the face of a wall

8. architect another name for cordon

9. an upper horizontal facet of a cut gem

10. music the sounding board of a violin, guitar, or similar stringed instrument

11. 1. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, usually in parallel columns, to display data or relations

       a table of contents

    2. See multiplication table

12. a tablet on which laws were inscribed by the ancient Romans, the Hebrews, etc

13. palmistry an area of the palm's surface bounded by four lines

14. printing a slab of smooth metal on which ink is rolled to its proper consistency

15. 1. either of the two bony plates that form the inner and outer parts of the flat bones of the cranium

    2. any thin flat plate, esp of bone

16. put forward for discussion and acceptance

    we currently have our final offer on the table

17. to cause a complete reversal of circumstances, esp to defeat or get the better of someone who was previously in a stronger position

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verb

1. to place on a table

2. to submit (a bill, etc) for consideration by a legislative body

3. to suspend discussion of (a bill, etc) indefinitely or for some time

4. to enter in or form into a list; tabulate

table More Idioms  

1. see clear out (the table); lay one's cards on the table; on the table; set the table; turn the tables; under the table; wait at table.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tableful
  noun
• tableless
  adjective
• untabled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tables
  plural

Participles

• tabling
  present
• tabled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• table
  simple
• tables
  simple
• have tabled
  perfect
• has tabled
  perfect
• am tabling
  progressive
• are tabling
  progressive
• is tabling
  progressive
• have been tabling
  perfect progressive
• has been tabling
  perfect progressive

Past

• tabled
  simple
• had tabled
  perfect
• was tabling
  progressive
• were tabling
  progressive
• had been tabling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will table
  simple
• will have tabled
  perfect
• will be tabling
  progressive
• will have been tabling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of table

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English tabule, variant of tabula, from Latin: “plank, tablet”; (verb) late Middle English: “to record on a table, entertain at table,” derivative of the noun

Explanation

The flat surface people sit around when they eat together is a table. A table can also be a chart full of information. When doing your taxes, you might use a tax table to determine how much you owe. Table is a very common noun, but it can also be used as a verb. In American English, the verb table means to set a matter aside indefinitely. For example, if state senators can't come to a compromise about new zoning laws, they might simply decide to table the issue. Confusingly, British English uses the verb table in precisely the opposite way: If members of the English Parliament table a piece of legislation, they formally submit it for discussion or debate.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

table tables tabled tabling

The United States and Canada were headed back to the negotiating table on Friday seeking a deal to end months of trade tensions before punishing new tariffs kick in at midnight.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

With no operating table built for the python's size, keepers and vets said they had to improvise by connecting two operating tables together.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The table below compares the model’s predictive power with that of the simple E/P ratio, focusing on a statistic known as the r-squared over the last 50 years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

The screen looked almost like a cheerful kitchen-table flat-lay: products arranged over a wood-grain background, hovering around a GoPuff bag as though someone had just come home and emptied the evening’s provisions onto the table.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

Zara jumps up from her place at the table, two gold medals swinging around her neck, hers and mine.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

At today’s rates, a single premium immediate annuity for a 71-year-old female would get you about $700 a month for every $100,000, according to the age tables at ImmediateAnnuities.com.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

The government's school league tables , externalare based on the percentage of pupils who achieve a 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Depicted with potted plants, ample relaxation room, and chic luggage storage under Saarinen tulip tables, the people mover, the video promises, “will perhaps be best known for its convenience and its feeling of luxury.”

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Outside, tables spilled across a terrace and onto the sand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Rich, Joey, and Eric were two tables away making faces and waving their hands about some show they had seen the night before.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Privately-held Stripe and Advent tabled an offer to buy PayPal for $60.50 a share earlier this month, Reuters and the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The legislation, first tabled two-and-a-half years ago, seeks to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies, known for selling large volumes of lower quality clothing at rock-bottom price.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

The council’s five-member rules committee tabled those ideas, saying they need more study.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

But when the vote came, the Commissioners Court tabled the temporary moratorium discussion and voted to grant Comanche Circle a conditional approval, requiring more detailed plans later.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

A number of scythes applauded, but several rose up and shouted their grievous discontent at the issue being tabled.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Al-Hilal may also test Villa's resolve again before the 1 September transfer deadline for Ollie Watkins, with the Premier League club reportedly tabling a new contract to try to keep the striker.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

That was subject to Palace tabling a written formal offer for the Norway forward, which Wolves would have accepted.

From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026

The event will highlight Indigenous identity, art, dance and history and include performances, art workshops, educational videos and tabling by student and community organizations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2025

Anwar, who took power last November, announced the measures while tabling 2024 federal budget in Parliament.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 13, 2023

The meeting ended with Eisenhower tabling Stassen’s plan, ostensibly for the moment.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• bar
• bench
• board
• buffet
• counter
• desk
• dinner table
• stand