Translate table | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of table
noun
1a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface on which objects may be placed, and that can be used for such purposes as eating, writing, working, or playing games. [in singular] food provided in a restaurant or household:he was reputed to have the finest French table of the time a group seated at a table for a meal:the whole table was in gales of laughter (
the table)
a meeting place or forum for formal discussions held to settle an issue or dispute:the negotiating table [in singular] Bridge the dummy hand (which is exposed on the table):they made the hand easily with the aid of a club ruff on the table
2a set of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns:the population has grown, as shown in table 1 a table of contents Computing a collection of data stored in memory as a series of records, each defined by a unique key stored with it.
3a flat surface, in particular. Architecture a flat, typically rectangular, vertical surface. a horizontal molding, especially a cornice. a slab of wood or stone bearing an inscription. a cut gem with two flat faces. each half or quarter of a folding board for backgammon.
verb
[with object] 1chiefly
US postpone consideration of:I’d like the issue to be tabled for the next few months
2British present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting:an MP tabled an amendment to the bill
Phrases
-
1make something known so that it can be freely and sensibly discussed.
2chiefly
US postpone something indefinitely.
-
1 informal very drunk:by 3:30 everybody was under the table
2(especially of making a payment) secretly or covertly:he accepted a slew of payoffs under the table
