table

[ tey-buh l ]

/ ˈteɪ bəl /

noun

an article of furniture consisting of a flat, slablike top supported on one or more legs or other supports: a kitchen table; an operating table; a pool table.

such a piece of furniture specifically used for serving food to those seated at it.

the food placed on a table to be eaten: She sets a good table.

a group of persons at a table, as for a meal, game, or business transaction.

a gaming table.

a flat or plane surface; a level area.

a tableland or plateau.

a concise list or guide: The table of contents in the front of the book includes chapter names and page numbers.

an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, or combinations of them, as in parallel columns, to exhibit a set of facts or relations in a definite, compact, and comprehensive form; a synopsis or scheme.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Mensa.

a flat and relatively thin piece of wood, stone, metal, or other hard substance, especially one artificially shaped for a particular purpose.

Architecture.

a course or band, especially of masonry, having a distinctive form or position.
a distinctively treated surface on a wall.

a smooth, flat board or slab on which inscriptions may be put.

tables,

the tablets on which certain collections of laws were anciently inscribed: the tables of the Decalogue.
the laws themselves.

Anatomy. the inner or outer hard layer or any of the flat bones of the skull.

Music. a sounding board.

Jewelry.

the upper horizontal surface of a faceted gem.
a gem with such a surface.

verb (used with object), ta·bled, ta·bling.

to place (a card, money, etc.) on a table.

to enter in or form into a table or list.

Parliamentary Procedure.

Chiefly U.S. to lay aside (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for future discussion, usually with a view to postponing or shelving the matter indefinitely.
British. to present (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for discussion.

adjective

of, relating to, or for use on a table: a table lamp.

suitable for serving at a table or for eating or drinking: table grapes.

Idioms for table

on the table, Parliamentary Procedure.

U.S. postponed.
British. submitted for consideration.

turn the tables, to cause a reversal of an existing situation, especially with regard to gaining the upper hand over a competitor, rival, antagonist, etc.: Fortune turned the tables and we won. We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.

under the table,

drunk.
as a bribe; secretly: She gave money under the table to get the apartment.

wait (on) table, to work as a waiter or waitress: He worked his way through college by waiting table. Also wait tables.

Origin of table

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English tabule, variant of tabula < Latin: plank, tablet; (v.) late Middle English: to record on a table, entertain at table, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM table

ta·ble·less, adjective un·ta·bled, adjective

Words nearby table

tabi, tabinet, tabla, tablas, tablature, table, table bay, table board, table corn, table cut, table d'hôte

British Dictionary definitions for turn the tables

table

/ (ˈteɪbəl) /

noun

a flat horizontal slab or board, usually supported by one or more legs, on which objects may be placed Related adjective: mensal

such a slab or board on which food is servedwe were six at table
(as modifier)table linen
(in combination)a tablecloth

food as served in a particular household or restaurant a good table

such a piece of furniture specially designed for any of various purposes a backgammon table; bird table

a company of persons assembled for a meal, game, etc
(as modifier)table talk

any flat or level area, such as a plateau

a rectangular panel set below or above the face of a wall

architect another name for cordon (def. 4)

an upper horizontal facet of a cut gem

music the sounding board of a violin, guitar, or similar stringed instrument

an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, usually in parallel columns, to display data or relationsa table of contents
See multiplication table

a tablet on which laws were inscribed by the ancient Romans, the Hebrews, etc

palmistry an area of the palm's surface bounded by four lines

printing a slab of smooth metal on which ink is rolled to its proper consistency

either of the two bony plates that form the inner and outer parts of the flat bones of the cranium
any thin flat plate, esp of bone

on the table put forward for discussion and acceptance we currently have our final offer on the table

turn the tables on someone to cause a complete reversal of circumstances, esp to defeat or get the better of someone who was previously in a stronger position

verb (tr)

to place on a table

British to submit (a bill, etc) for consideration by a legislative body

US to suspend discussion of (a bill, etc) indefinitely or for some time

to enter in or form into a list; tabulate

Derived forms of table

tableful, noun tableless, adjective

Word Origin for table

C12: via Old French from Latin tabula a writing tablet

Medical definitions for turn the tables

table

[ tā′bəl ]

n.

An article of furniture supported by one or more vertical legs and having a flat horizontal surface.

An orderly arrangement of data, especially one in which the data are arranged in columns and rows in an essentially rectangular form.

An abbreviated list, as of contents; a synopsis.

The inner or outer flat layer of bones of the skull separated by the diploe.

Cultural definitions for turn the tables

turn the tables

To reverse a situation and gain the upper hand: “After trailing the entire first quarter, the team rallied and finally turned the tables.”

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (1 of 2)

turn the tables

Reverse a situation and gain the upper hand, as in Steffi won their previous three matches but today Mary turned the tables and prevailed. This expression alludes to the former practice of reversing the table or board in games such as chess, thereby switching the opponents' positions. [c. 1600]

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (2 of 2)

table

see clear out (the table); lay one's cards on the table; on the table; set the table; turn the tables; under the table; wait at table.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

table

noun

verb (used with object), ta·bled, ta·bling.

adjective

Idioms for table

Origin of table

OTHER WORDS FROM table

Words nearby table

British Dictionary definitions for turn the tables

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of table

Word Origin for table

Medical definitions for turn the tables

n.

Cultural definitions for turn the tables

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

table

noun

verb (used with object), ta·bled, ta·bling.

adjective

Idioms for table

Origin of table

OTHER WORDS FROM table

Words nearby table

Words related to turn the tables

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for turn the tables

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of table

Word Origin for table

Medical definitions for turn the tables

n.

Cultural definitions for turn the tables

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with turn the tables (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for turn the tables