I. ta ‧ ble 1 S1 W1 /ˈteɪb ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin tabula 'board, list' ]
1 . FURNITURE a piece of furniture with a flat top supported by legs:
The food was served on long tables.
⇨ ↑ coffee table , ↑ dressing table
2 . RESTAURANT a table for people to eat at in a restaurant :
I've booked a table for two.
3 . SPORT/GAME snooker/billiard/ping-pong etc table a special table for playing a particular indoor sport or game on
4 . LIST a list of numbers, facts, or information arranged in rows across and down a page
table of
a table of results
the table of contents
5 . on the table 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.
6 . turn the tables (on somebody) 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.
7 . under the table informal money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally:
Payments were made under the table to local officials.
8 . MATHS times table a list that young children learn, in which all the numbers between 1 and 12 are multiplied by each other SYN multiplication table
three/four etc times table
He’s 12 years old and still doesn’t know his three times table.
9 . GROUP the group of people sitting around a table:
His stories kept the whole table amused.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ set/lay the table (=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal)
The table was set for fourteen.
▪ clear the table (=take plates etc off)
Do you want me to clear the table?
▪ sit at a table
He was sitting at a corner table.
▪ sit around a table
We sat around the table and talked.
▪ get up from/leave the table
She stood up from her chair and left the table.
▪ book/reserve a table (=in a restaurant)
I've booked a table for four at a local restaurant.
■ NOUN + table
▪ dinner/breakfast table
Will you clear the breakfast table?
▪ bedside/kitchen/dining-room table
They were chatting around the kitchen table.
II. table 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . table a proposal/question/motion etc British English to formally present a proposal etc for other people to discuss:
Dr Clark tabled a motion for debate at next month’s committee meeting.
2 . table a bill/measure/proposal etc American English to leave a bill etc to be discussed or dealt with in the future