table

1 of 3

noun

ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl 

plural tables

often attributive

1

a

: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs

b(1)

: a group of people assembled at or as if at a table

(2)

: a legislative or negotiating session

the bargaining table

c(1)

: a supply or source of food

(2)

: an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal

sit down to table

2

a

: a systematic arrangement of data usually in rows and columns for ready reference

b

: a condensed enumeration : list

a table of contents

3

: tablet sense 1a

4

a

tables plural : backgammon

b

: one of the two leaves of a backgammon board or either half of a leaf

5

: stringcourse

6

: something that resembles a table especially in having a plane surface: such as

a

: the upper flat surface of a cut precious stone see brilliant illustration

b(1)

: tableland

(2)

: a horizontal stratum

see also:

off the table on the table under the table

table

2 of 3

verb

tabled; tabling ˈtā-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove (something, such as a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely

b

British : to place on the agenda

c

: to put on a table

2

: to enter in a table

table

3 of 3

adjective

1

: suitable for a table or for use at a table

a table lamp

2

: suitable for serving at a table

table grapes

3

: proper for conduct at a table

table manners

Synonyms of table

Noun

• counter
• board

Examples of table in a Sentence

Noun

They were sitting at the dining table.

She reserved a table for two at the restaurant.

He had the attention of the entire table.

The table shows the salary of each employee.

Verb

The committee tabled the issue until the next meeting.

She plans to table a motion for debate in Parliament.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Recall that after the Rams lost in the NFC championship last January, team president Kevin Demoff’s first order of business was signing Snead and McVay to extensions that had been on the table all season. —Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. —Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2026

Verb

The forthcoming act, tabled by Commissioner Michael McGrath, addresses the ways tech firms manipulate consumer behavior. —Parmy Olson, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026

That is believed to be a record high number for a piece of legislation that was tabled by a backbencher rather than by the government. —ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

Adjective

There were high spots amid this lower mid-table existence, such as when Wrexham were proudly second in the table in October 1979, 10 games into that season. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026

With Paris Saint-Germain not playing this weekend, Lens had the chance to move two points clear with a win at mid-table Lorient. —ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English tabule & Anglo-French table; both from Latin tabula board, tablet, list

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing table

• at table
• bed table
• card table
• changing table
• cocktail table
• coffee-table
• coffee-table book
• console table
• contingency table
• dinner table
• drawing table
• dressing table
• drink (someone) under the table
• end table
• examination table
• farm-to-table
• gateleg table
• head table
• high table
• lay on the table
• lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table
• league table
• life table
• light table
• Lord's table
• mortality table
• multiplication table
• night table
• off the table
• on the table
• operating table
• Parsons table
• Pembroke table
• periodic table
• picnic table
• pier table
• pin-table
• plane table
• refectory table
• round table
• run the table
• sand table
• side table
• steam table
• sweep the table
• table d'hôte
• table football
• table-hop
• table linen
• table manners
• table mat
• table of contents
• table of organization
• table-rapping
• table salt
• table soccer
• table sugar
• table talk
• table-tapping
• table tennis
• table-top
• table wine
• tea table
• the negotiating table
• times table
• training table
• trestle table
• truth table
• under the table
• wait at table
• water table

Rhymes for table

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• stable
• allocable
• educable
• integrable
• purchasable
• thermostable

Kids Definition

table

1 of 2 noun

ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl 

1

: tablet sense 1a

2

a

: a piece of furniture with a smooth flat top fixed on legs

b

: food served at a meal

c

: a group of people assembled at a table

3

a

: an orderly arrangement of facts or figures in rows or columns for quick reference

a table of weights

the multiplication table

b

: a short list

the table of contents

4

: plateau sense 1

table

2 of 2 verb

tabled; tabling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: tabulate

2

: to remove a parliamentary motion from consideration for an unspecified period of time

3

: to put on a table

Medical Definition

table

noun

ta·​ble ˈtā-bəl 

1

: a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs

especially : one used for examining or operating

2

: either of the two layers of compact bone of the skull which are separated by cancellous diploe