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

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

Phrases

off the table

: not up for consideration or negotiation

That option is now off the table.

on the table

: up for consideration or negotiation

the subject is not on the table

under the table

1

: into a stupor

can drink you under the table

2

: in a covert manner

took money under the table

Synonyms

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

The reason for the parade of customers, many of them first-time visitors, was the boxes of free fruits and vegetables -- apples, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes and onions -- sitting atop two tables and inside multiple boxes under them. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2025

And my experience in nearly three years at the Fed is that everybody sitting around the table takes the job extremely seriously. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Verb

It was tabled the first time it was proposed, rejected the second time, rejected the third time on stronger margins. —Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

That means the investment in playing time Miami’s making to three rookies — offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips — might be tabled because all three are clearly struggling to play with a level of consistency this team needs to win in the trenches. —Omar Kelly october 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Adjective

As for the rest, Derby rallied to finish a remarkable third (eventually losing to Queens Park Rangers in the play-off final), while Middlesbrough (12th), Bolton (14th) and Wednesday (16th) claimed a respectable mid-table berth. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

How to Do It: Start on your hands and knees in a table top position. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 1 Aug. 2023

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
• 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
• 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 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
• 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