tablet

noun

tab·let ˈta-blət

: a flat slab or plaque suited for or bearing an inscription

: a thin slab or one of a set of portable sheets used for writing

: pad entry 1 sense 2

: a small mass of medicated material

an aspirin tablet

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

: graphics tablet

Example Sentences

you'll need to use your writing tablet to record all the information that the real estate agent is likely to reel off take two tablets of the medication every eight hours

Recent Examples on the Web When paired with an iPad, this set turns your kid's tablet into an educational toy.

Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 18 Nov. 2022 Audience members could change their point of view at any time during the performance by using a cellphone or tablet.

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2022 This Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold does away with a keyboard and is instead like a giant tablet that folds in the middle.

PCMAG, 15 Nov. 2022 Chang’s team would like to transition to a wireless version that would beam data to a tablet and wouldn’t pose as much of a risk, but that kind of hardware update doesn’t happen overnight.

Megan Molteni, STAT, 10 Nov. 2022 It can be used as both a tablet and a laptop with its 2-in-1 design.

Sascha Brodsky, Popular Mechanics, 10 Nov. 2022 Sure the iPad Air 4 is the 2020 model, a tablet that Apple doesn’t even sell anymore.

Chris Smith, BGR, 2 Nov. 2022 Jennings has a tablet, and fellow host Mayim Bialik uses a complicated highlighter system for Final Jeopardy.

Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2022 As of 2022, HIV is treated using a combination of medications, which are mostly administered using pills and often in a combination tablet.

Emily Rekstis, Allure, 26 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tablet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tablett, from Anglo-French tablet, diminutive of table table

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of tablet was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tablet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablet. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

tablet

noun

tab·let ˈtab-lət

: a flat slab suited for an inscription

: pad entry 2 sense 4

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

: a small usually round mass of material containing medicine

aspirin tablet

: graphics tablet

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat rectangular form, is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, and reading e-books