tablet

noun tab·let \ ˈta-blət \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: tablet in a Sentence

Definition of tablet

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

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

c : ¹pad 2

2 a : a small mass of medicated material

an aspirin tablet

b : a compressed or molded block of a solid material

3 a 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.

b : graphics tablet

See tablet defined for English-language learners

See tablet defined for kids

Examples of tablet in a Sentence

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 of tablet from the Web

These four tablets are CNET’s editors’ top picks, bar none.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "CNET: Best Tablets Of 2018," 14 June 2018
The bus contains a television studio, 11 touchscreen tablets and a station for people to take self-portraits; visitors can take quizzes to test their knowledge of the political process.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Attention, politics junkies: Public affairs channel C-SPAN is floating its bus to Alaska for a road trip," 12 June 2018
This information would then be sent to coaching staff through a tablet device, allowing the two to communicate with each other.

— zahid mahmood, CNN, "World Cup 2018: Hand-held devices to provide in-game analysis to coaches," 12 June 2018
We were expected to watch movies on our tiny cellphones (or tablets), using a downloaded app for the combined 13 hours in the air.

— catharine hamm, latimes.com, "The future of in-flight entertainment is up in the air," 11 June 2018
The investigation offers a rare glimpse inside a several-thousand-employee factory that makes Echos, Kindles and tablets for Amazon, and describes a fast-moving facility beholden to shifting production quotas.

— matt day, The Seattle Times, "Watchdog criticizes conditions at Chinese factory that builds Amazon Echo speakers," 9 June 2018
The famous 1967 Patterson-Gimlin Film — the grainy footage of an ape-like creature walking in a forest, which serves as a sort of religious tablet to Bigfoot believers — was recorded nearby, at Bluff Creek.

— leah sottile, SFChronicle.com, "Gone ‘squatchin’: How to hunt for Bigfoot," 8 June 2018
Every morning, a 32-year-old Bostonian named Mike places an orange tablet under his tongue just before leaving for work.

— felice freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "Treating drug addiction with drugs: Share your thoughts on the story," 7 June 2018
There’s also a more insidious concern: Those tablets Komang handed out are potassium cyanide.

— National Geographic, "‘Holy Grail' Test for Illegal Cyanide-Caught Aquarium Fish May Be Fatally Flawed," 5 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of tablet

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

tablet Synonyms

Synonyms

cap, capsule, lozenge, pill;

miracle drug, wonder drug;

potion, preparation;

dosage, dose;

TABLET Defined for English Language Learners

tablet

noun

Definition of tablet for English Language Learners

: a flat piece of stone, clay, or wood that has writing on it
: a small usually round piece of medicine
: a set of paper sheets for writing or drawing that are glued or fastened at one edge