tablecloth

American  

[tey-buhl-klawth, -kloth] / ˈteɪ bəlˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

plural

tablecloths

1. a cloth for covering the top of a table, especially during a meal.

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tablecloth British  

/ ˈteɪbəlˌklɒθ /

noun

1. a cloth for covering the top of a table, esp during meals

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Etymology

Origin of tablecloth

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; 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

Her first tip is to use a waterproof runner underneath your favorite tablecloth, so your table stays protected from any spills and stains.

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2025

Twenty minutes later, Foster returns to PCH with not only the Purple Heart, but several family photos, wrapped carefully in a tablecloth.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

A cluttered home environment poses a fall risk, radio and TV sounds can be distracting, and even a patterned tablecloth can cause visual confusion.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2024

When Ava Friedmann and Michael Henein were married, they used a tablecloth from Ms. Friedmann’s grandmother as a huppah, or ritual canopy held above the couple in a Jewish wedding.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

And in the very same way the Spirit long ago became manifest in the Body of Christ, the first cabbage rose began to materialize on my tablecloth.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver