TABLE


Meaning of TABLE in English

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

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.