tablecloth
Americannoun
noun
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.
Arscott said the couple would see work created by the year-long programme, including a collaborative tablecloth made from materials gathered over months of sessions.
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
“Dark restaurants, candlelight, tablecloth restaurants, Sinatra music, that whole vibe of the ‘Italian restaurant’ lends itself well to romance, and spaghetti and meatballs just happen to be the most iconic ‘Italian’ dish.”
From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026
The type of slide that occurred is what’s known as translational, which Wonder described as “kind of like a tablecloth sliding off the table.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024
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
She reaches across the white tablecloth and nearly knocks over the single-carnation centerpiece as she grabs for my wrist.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
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.
