tile

noun, often attributive

\ ˈtī(-ə)l

Definition of tile

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 plural tiles or tile

a : a flat or curved piece of fired clay, stone, or concrete used especially for roofs, floors, or walls and often for ornamental work

b : a hollow or a semicircular and open earthenware or concrete piece used in constructing a drain

c : a hollow building unit made of fired clay or of shale or gypsum

2 : tiling

3 : a thin piece of resilient material (such as cork, linoleum, or rubber) used especially for covering floors or walls

4 : a thin piece resembling a ceramic tile that usually bears a mark or letter and is used as a playing piece in a board game (such as mah-jongg)

5 : hat especially : a high silk hat

on the tiles

British

: engaged in late-night carousing

tile

verb

tiled; tiling

Definition of tile (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover with tiles

2 : to install drainage tile in

Other Words from tile Example Sentences Learn More about tile

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Examples of tile in a Sentence

Noun

We installed new tile in the kitchen.

Verb

We hired him to tile the bathroom floor.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Everyone appreciates the two-story lobby's solid marble front desk, mahogany detailing, intricate black-and-white mosaic tile floor and colorful, coffered stained glass ceiling, all of which are original. — Dina Mishev, Dallas News, "In Cheyenne, the Wild West hasn't been totally tamed," 16 July 2019 Wearing pink Mickey Mouse leggings and a matching pink top, April stands on the peeling white tile floor amid boxes and plastic bins in the first-floor bedroom in the house on McMicken. — Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "4 addresses in 4 months: This is what poverty looks like for this Cincinnati family," 10 July 2019 Everyone appreciates the two-story lobby’s solid marble front desk, mahogany detailing, intricate black-and-white mosaic tile floor and colorful, coffered stained glass ceiling, all of which are original. — Dina Mishev, Washington Post, "Cheyenne," 10 July 2019 This two-bedroom, two-bathroom home offers a new glass-top range oven, microwave, updated bathroom fixtures, and yet still maintains its charm with original wood floors and tile work. — Bang Staff And Correspondents, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: Lagoon life with a midcentury vibe," 9 July 2019 The master and guest bathrooms hold original tile work in light pink, trimmed in baby blue. — azcentral, "A red-brick ranch in Glendale is more than a home. Take a look inside the pet sanctuary and urban farm," 20 June 2019 Original bathrooms and tile work remain, as does the fireplace on the main floor. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Octagonal midcentury home on a lake asks $489K," 12 Oct. 2018 The stylish, fast-casual eatery boasts a modern décor that favors cool-blue hues and retro-looking tile work. — James Patrick Kelly, idahostatesman, "Boise’s trendy new taquerias redefine the taco – and diners get to taste the difference," 27 June 2018 Fifty years ago, Van Cleef & Arpels introduced the Alhambra, a four-leaf clover lucky charm motif suggestive of Moorish tile work that soon became emblematic of the fabled jewelry house. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "In Marrakech, Van Cleef & Arpels Celebrate 50 Years of Its Iconic Alhambra Design," 25 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Dementia prevented her from learning that the pentagon tiling story has finally come to a close, decades after Gardner first called it. — Quanta Magazine, "Marjorie Rice’s Secret Pentagons," 11 July 2017 At the estate’s highest point, with views for miles, our guide Antonio pointed out a patch of ground, leveled and tiled, where overnight guests can come to eat dinner and stargaze. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "Vacation in Portugal the Less-Obvious Way," 10 Aug. 2018 The walls are lined with wooden slats, the floor is tiled with black and white, and seating is limited to a few narrow tables and bar stools. — Annette Tan, Condé Nast Traveler, "16 Best Cafes in Singapore," 4 Mar. 2018 Photo: Vanessa Berberian for The Wall Street Journal More from Mansion The kitchen cabinets and countertops are made from dark wenge hardwood, and its floor is tiled in a herringbone pattern of black bricks. — Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, "Building a Home Over the Office to Achieve Work-Life Balance," 20 Nov. 2018 The newly tiled, sleek white bathroom has a shower-over-tub. — Julie Lasky, New York Times, "$600,000 Homes in Florida, Connecticut and California," 24 Jan. 2018 Heading east, Pakenham spies a parked van from a tiling company and clicks on his iPhone — the first step in collecting evidence. — Elizabeth Royte, Daily Intelligencer, "George Pakenham is waging a one-man war on air pollution on the Upper West Side.," 10 July 2018 One of the property’s three bathrooms, tiled in marble. — Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, "How to Live Luxe—and With Light—in a Basement Home," 13 June 2018 German firm Bureau Oberhaeuser has a new concept for Tesla's interface that takes a cue from the world of smart devices and tablets, allowing multiple apps to be tiled at once and moved around at will. — John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, "Imagine If Your Tesla's Console Worked Like This," 18 Mar. 2015

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