tablecloth

noun

ta·​ble·​cloth ˈtā-bəl-ˌklȯth How to pronounce tablecloth (audio)
: a covering spread over a dining table before the tableware is set

Examples of tablecloth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But for a restaurant that serves plenty of dishes seemingly designed for white tablecloths, there’s still an awful lot of eating done with your hands. Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 3 June 2026 These were not tacos reverse-engineered for a white-tablecloth audience or softened for white palates. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Carpets, upholstery, tablecloths and other household items treated to be durable, waterproof or stain-resistant could also contain PFAS. Mara Hoplamazian, NPR, 2 June 2026 One of them, called The Cricket, opened in the early 1900s with white tablecloths. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tablecloth

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tablecloth was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Tablecloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablecloth. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

tablecloth

noun
ta·​ble·​cloth ˈtā-bəl-ˌklȯth How to pronounce tablecloth (audio)
: a covering spread over a dining table before the places are set

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