table

SayTAY-buhl/ˈteɪbl̩//ˈtæɪ.bəl/

Pluraltables

Verbtables, tabling, tabled

26 meanings of table

Practice

1
dining furniturenouncountable
A piece of furniture with a flat top, used for eating, working, or playing games.
Like a flat shelf standing on legs that you can sit at.
We gathered around the kitchen table for dinner.
She set her cup down on the wooden table.
UsageSit at the table. Put food on the table.
Note
2
data gridnouncountable
Information set out in rows and columns so it is easy to compare, like a times table.
Like a grid of boxes, with one fact written in each box.
The report included a table showing sales for each month.
He copied the numbers from the table into his notebook.
UsagePut numbers in a table.
Similarchart, grid
Note
3
league standingsnouncountable
A list that ranks teams or players by how well they have done over a season.
Like a scoreboard that lists who is winning, from first place to last.
Their team climbed to the top of the table after winning five games.
She checked the table to see which club was in first place.
UsageSay top of the table for the team in first place.
Similarstandings, rankings, ladder
4
people seatednouncountable
The people sitting together at a table, for a meal, a meeting or a game.
Like saying 'the room clapped' to mean the people inside it.
Our table voted to finish the meeting early.
At the workshop, each table wrote down three ideas.
UsageOften the whole table: the whole table laughed.
Note
5
put forwardverbUKCommonwealthtransitive
To bring forward a plan or idea so a group can discuss it officially.
Like raising your hand to put your idea on the list of things to talk about.
Two council members will table the plan so it can be debated right away.
She tabled an idea for cheaper bus fares, and the committee debated it.
UsageIn American English it means the opposite. Propose is clearer.
Similarpropose, moot
Note
6
nouncountable
A list of values arranged so a computer can quickly look something up.
Like a chart that lets you look up an answer instead of working it out.
The program checks a table to find the right price for each item.
We stored all the codes in one big table.
Note
7
host's mealsnouncountable
The food and good things to eat that a household or host provides.
Like saying someone 'sets a great spread' to mean they give lots of good food.
Their family was known for keeping a generous table.
The inn set a fine table for travelers each night.
UsageSay someone keeps a good table.
Similarfare, spread, cuisine
Note
8
boothnounmetonymicallycountable
A stand or display where someone shows or sells things at a fair or event.
Like a little shop set up on one table at a busy fair.
We ran a table at the craft fair to sell candles.
Volunteers staffed a table near the entrance handing out flyers.
Similarbooth, stand, stall

Less common meanings

9
nounfigurative
Talks between groups trying to agree on a deal, thought of as a place where they meet.
The union and the company finally came back to the table to talk about pay.
Small countries want a seat at the table when the new trade rules are decided.
UsageSay come to the table for starting talks.
Note
10
postponeverbUStransitive
To stop talking about a plan for now and deal with it later, or maybe never.
Like putting a project in a drawer and closing it for a long time.
The committee decided to table the issue until next year.
Let's table this discussion and move on to the budget.
UsageIn Britain it means the opposite. Postpone is clearer.
Similarshelve, postpone, defer
Note
11
staff a boothverbmetonymicallyintransitive
To stand at a booth at a fair or show to represent a company or group.
Like setting up a stand at a fair to tell people about your group.
We're tabling at the career fair next week to recruit new graduates.
Volunteers table at community events to share information about the charity.
12
verbcolloquialtransitive
To lay your playing cards down face-up so everyone can see them.
Like flipping your cards over so the whole group sees them at once.
He decided to table his cards and show the winning hand.
She tabled her hand to claim the pot.
Similarshow, reveal
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13
verbtransitive
To place something on top of a table.
Similarplace, set
Note
14
lay out figuresverbtransitive
To arrange facts or numbers into rows and columns.
Like sorting your facts into neat boxes laid out in rows and columns.
The scores are tabled at the back of the report, one row per class.
Please table these figures so we can compare them easily.
UsagePeople usually say tabulate.
Similartabulate
15
nouncountable
A flat tray that you can use like a small table.
Similartray
16
Communionnouncountable
A church service where Christians share bread and wine.
Like a shared meal that brings the whole church together.
On Sunday the minister invited everyone to come to the table.
Many came to the table to share the bread and wine.
UsageOften the Lord's table.
Similarcommunion, Eucharist
17
backgammonnouncountable
One of the four parts of a backgammon board, each with six points.
Like one side of a folding game board.
He moved all his pieces into the inner table before bearing off.
You can't bear off until every checker is in your home table.
Note
18
verbrare
To give a guest food at a table, or to feed someone.
Note
19
nounobsolete
A small flat surface used long ago for writing on.
Note
20
depictverbobsolete
To show or draw something in a picture.
Note
21
join timberverbobsolete
To join pieces of wood by fitting bumps cut on one piece into holes cut in the other.
Note
22
noun
The flat front surface of a violin or similar instrument, under the strings.
23
noun
The flat top surface cut into the upper part of a polished diamond.
24
noun
A wide, low fence that a horse jumps over in a riding contest.
25
noun
A flat gravestone that rests on top of stone pillars.
26
verb
To sew a strong, wide hem along the edge of a sail.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of table apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Latin tabula, meaning "board" or "tablet." The meaning "piece of furniture" came through Old French table, from the same Latin word.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Table ultimately derives from Latin tabula, meaning “board” or “tablet.” en.wiktionary.org
The furniture meaning came through Old French table, from the same Latin word. en.wiktionary.org