tablecloth

American  

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

noun

tablecloths plural

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; 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

Break out the nice plates and a clean tablecloth.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

Earlier that morning, Father Frank Cancro, 74, the National Circus Chaplain, laid out water, wine, communion wafers and a cross on a folding table adorned with a black tablecloth.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 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

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

“Plenty,” I say as I tear a brown paper bag at its seams and spread it out on the dining room table like a tablecloth.

From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan