I. ˈtī(-ə)l noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tigele, from Latin tegula tile; akin to Latin tegere to cover — more at thatch
Date: before 12th century
1. plural tiles or tile
a. : a flat or curved piece of fired clay, stone, or concrete used especially 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 ; especially : a high silk hat
4. : a thin piece of resilient material (as cork, linoleum, or rubber) used especially for covering floors or walls
5. : a thin piece resembling a ceramic tile that usually bears a mark or letter and is used as a playing piece in a board game (as mah-jongg)
•
- on the tiles
II. transitive verb
( tiled ; til·ing )
Date: 13th century
1. : to cover with tiles
2. : to install drainage tile in
• til·er noun