tile

American  

[tahyl] / taɪl /

noun

1. a thin slab or bent piece of baked clay, sometimes painted or glazed, used for various purposes, as to form one of the units of a roof covering, floor, or revetment.

2. any of various similar slabs or pieces, as of linoleum, stone, rubber, or metal.

3. tiles collectively.

4. a flat, rectangular playing piece used in certain games, as Scrabble and mah-jongg.

5. a pottery tube or pipe used for draining land.

6. Also called hollow tile.  any of various hollow or cellular units of burnt clay or other materials, as gypsum or cinder concrete, for building walls, partitions, floors, and roofs, or for fireproofing steelwork or the like.

7. Informal. a stiff hat or high silk hat.

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verb (used with object)

tiled, tiling

1. to cover with or as with tiles.

tile British  

/ taɪl /

noun

1. a flat thin slab of fired clay, rubber, linoleum, etc, usually square or rectangular and sometimes ornamental, used with others to cover a roof, floor, wall, etc

2. a short pipe made of earthenware, concrete, or plastic, used with others to form a drain

3. tiles collectively

4. a rectangular block used as a playing piece in mah jong and other games

5. old-fashioned a hat

6. informal on a spree, esp of drinking or debauchery

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with tiles

Other Word Forms

• retile verb (used with object)
• tilelike adjective
• tiler noun

Etymology

Origin of tile

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English tīgele (cognate with German Ziegel ), from Latin tēgula

Example Sentences

I pull out a chair, which clunks along the patio tiles.

From Literature

After she falls asleep, I lie on top of the stiff motel bedspread in my clothes and stare at the ceiling tiles.

From Literature

The current tingled up his arm, and his skin began changing, too, matching the gray floor tile.

From Literature

The tiled pool has a romantic feel, like it’s from another era.

From Los Angeles Times

The chef’s kitchen is entirely white, including the tile backsplash, and comes complete with state-of-the-art appliances, a large island, and a chandelier.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• brick
• plate
• shingle