tablecloth
Americannoun
-
tablecloths
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tablecloth
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at table, cloth
Explanation
That big piece of fabric you use to cover your kitchen table is a tablecloth. There's nothing like a tablecloth and a couple of candles to make an ordinary meal feel just a little bit fancy. People have used tablecloths for centuries, both as a decoration and to protect the table. The most common type is made from linen or cotton, but there's a nearly endless variety. History shows examples of embroidered, velvet, silk, and lace tablecloths. These days you'll also find waterproof, plastic-coated tablecloths. If you really want to impress your friends, you'll learn the famous magic trick that involves pulling a tablecloth off a table so fast you don't disturb the plates!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I said, ‘I have to ask you, Mrs., this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, serving your bird on a white tablecloth with Christofle china.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
They watched as excited fans flooded the city and poured into the grounds: the red and green of Portugal and tablecloth checks of Croatia.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
We had few white tablecloth restaurants in my hometown, but what we did have was Olive Garden, which I discovered after being introduced to ravioli from cans of Chef Boyardee.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026
From under the tablecloth, reporters heard someone yell out, “God bless America! USA!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
She lifted the lid and looked at the alethiometer closely before lifting it out of its nest of maroon velvet and setting it on the white tablecloth.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
She picked up tables, taped down tablecloths and moved boxes to the side of the stage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Inside the cafe, the tables were covered in brightly colored polyurethane tablecloths, also covered with flowers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
"Don't sit at home," said the entrepreneur, surrounded by embroidered dresses, scarves and tablecloths.
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
It shows up across the echelons of dining, from white tablecloths to vinyl booths.
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2026
It’s as dainty as the tablecloths inside, and it doesn’t quite match up with the rest of her.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
