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tiling

[tahy-ling]
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noun
  1. the operation of covering with tiles.
  2. tiles collectively.
  3. a tiled surface.
  4. Mathematics. a two-dimensional pattern resembling a tiled surface.
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Origin of tiling

First recorded in 1400–50, tiling is from the late Middle English word tylynge. See tile, -ing1

tile

[tahyl]
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 pottery tube or pipe used for draining land.
  5. 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.
  6. Informal. a stiff hat or high silk hat.
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verb (used with object), tiled, til·ing.
  1. to cover with or as with tiles.
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Origin of tile

before 900; Middle English; Old English tīgele (cognate with German Ziegel) < Latin tēgula
Related formstile·like, adjectivere·tile, verb (used with object), re·tiled, re·til·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for tiling

tiling

noun
  1. tiles collectively
  2. something made of or surfaced with tiles
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tile

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, etcRelated adjective: tegular
  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. British old-fashioned, slang a hat
  6. on the tiles informal on a spree, esp of drinking or debauchery
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verb
  1. (tr) to cover with tiles
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Derived Formstiler, noun

Word Origin

Old English tīgele, from Latin tēgula; related to German Ziegel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tiling

tile

n.

Old English tigele "roofing shingle," from West Germanic *tegala (cf. Old High German ziagal, German ziegel, Dutch tegel, Old Norse tigl), a borrowing from Latin tegula "tile" (cf. Italian tegola, French tuile), from tegere "roof, to cover" (see stegosaurus). Also used in Old English and early Middle English for "brick," before that word came into use. The verb meaning "to cover with tiles" is recorded from late 14c.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper