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tabletop

American  
[tey-buhl-top] / ˈteɪ bəlˌtɒp /

noun

  • tabletops
    plural
  1. a surface forming or suggesting the top of a table.

  2. a photograph of an arrangement of objects on top of a table.


adjective

  1. intended for use on the top of a table or the like.

  2. noting or relating to an arrangement of objects, especially miniatures or models, as would be appropriate to the top of a table.

  3. noting or relating to a type of game that requires the physical presence of players and the manipulation of game pieces, in contrast to video games.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of tabletop

First recorded in 1800–10; table + top 1

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:

My glass of vermút sweats down to the turquoise tabletop.

From Salon Aug. 11, 2026

UK-based Games Workshop previously announced Warhammer superfan Henry Cavill would produce and star in TV and film projects based on the miniature tabletop wargame.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2026

In addition, Caldwell said he added 9,000 new touch screens in the kitchens, designed to simplify order prioritization for cooks and added new tabletop payment devices.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 28, 2026

Instead, the researchers used a tabletop rectangular tank filled with viscous glycerol and tiny thermochromic liquid crystals that change color as temperatures shift.

From Science Daily Jul. 9, 2026

I frowned at the tabletop, which was etched with initials.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Your television itself may be obsolete, replaced by wraparound digital glasses or interactive tabletops that transform how you watch the Super Bowl, the World Cup or Wimbledon.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 12, 2026

It goes on to say that Aedes mosquitoes prefer ankles, so the candles that are typically placed on tabletops won’t provide much protection.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 29, 2024

But Farmer, Li, and colleagues only cleaned horizontal surfaces like floors and tabletops, not the walls and ceilings, which may be where the remaining emissions originated.

From National Geographic Oct. 13, 2023

Avoid strict organization and instead allow your belongings to be casually scattered and displayed on shelves, tabletops and even walls.

From Seattle Times Jul. 18, 2023

At the word “congratulations” the room erupts, not into applause, but into the pounding of fists on tabletops.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

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