[tile] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OE tigele, fr. L tegula tile; akin to L tegere to cover--more at thatch] (bef. 12c) 1 pl tiles or tile a: a flat or curved piece of fired clay, stone, or concrete used esp. for roofs, floors, or walls and often for ornamental work b: a hollow or a semicircular and open earthenware or concrete piece used in constructing a drain c: a hollow building unit made of fired clay or of shale or gypsum
2: tiling
3: hat; esp: a high silk hat
4: a thin piece of resilient material (as cork, linoleum, or rubber) used esp. for covering floors or walls
5: a thin piece resembling a ceramic tile that usu. bears a mark or letter and is used as a playing piece in a board game (as mah-jongg) -- on the tiles Brit: engaged in late-night carousing
[2]tile vt tiled ; til.ing (14c) 1: to cover with tiles
2: to install drainage tile in -- til.er n