tile

 
Pronunciation: /tʌɪl/

noun

  • a thin rectangular slab of baked clay or other material, used in overlapping rows for covering roofs.
  • a thin square slab of glazed pottery or other material for covering floors, walls, or other surfaces.
  • a thin, flat piece used in Scrabble, mah-jong, and certain other games.
  • Mathematics a plane shape used in tiling.

verb

[with object]
  • cover with tiles: the lobby was tiled in blue
  • Computing arrange (two or more windows) on a computer screen so that they do not overlap.

Phrases

on the tiles

informal, chiefly British having a lively night out: it won’t be the first time he’s spent a night on the tiles

Origin:

Old English tigele, from Latin tegula, from an Indo-European root meaning 'cover'