| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin tabula 'board, list' |
1 a piece of furniture with a flat top supported by legs :
the dining-room table
furniture
DHF
the dining-room table lay the table British English set the table American English (=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal)
2 a special table for playing a particular indoor sport or game on
sport/game
snooker/billiard/ping-pong etc table
3 a list of numbers, facts, or information arranged in rows across and down a page
list
TCN4 an offer, idea etc that is on the table has been officially suggested and someone is considering it :
The offer on the table is a 10% wage increase.
on the table
The offer on the table is a 10% wage increase.5 to change a situation completely, so that someone loses an advantage and you gain one :
The tables were turned in the second half, when Leeds United scored from the penalty spot.
turn the tables (on somebody)
The tables were turned in the second half, when Leeds United scored from the penalty spot.6 money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally :
Payments were made under the table to local officials.
under the table
informal
Payments were made under the table to local officials.7 a list that young children learn, in which all the numbers between 1 and 12 are multiplied by each other [= multiplication table]
maths
HMtimes table
8 the group of people sitting around a table :
His stories kept the whole table amused.
group
His stories kept the whole table amused.
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