# tab /ˈtæb/ (US) · /tˈæb/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tab Updated: 2026-06-20 ## Senses ### 1. physical flap noun · CEFR B1 a small piece of material that sticks out from something, used for pulling or identifying it. For teachers: a small flap, strip, or projection attached to an object to facilitate opening, handling, or identification. - Pull the plastic tab on the battery compartment to start the device. - The archivist used colour-coded tabs to mark the most significant pages in the ledger for quick reference during the presentation. ### 2. computing navigation noun · CEFR B1 a clickable button at the top of a web browser or window that lets you switch between pages. For teachers: a graphical user interface element that allows a user to switch between different documents or panels within a single window. - I have so many tabs open in my browser that I can't see the titles. - The developer implemented a tabbed interface to prevent the workspace from becoming cluttered with multiple independent windows. ### 3. restaurant bill noun · CEFR B2 · Informal a bill for food or drinks, especially one that you pay at the end of a night. For teachers: an informal record of a customer's charges, typically in a bar or restaurant, to be settled at a later time. - We decided to run a tab at the bar and pay for all the drinks together. - The regular customers were permitted to keep a monthly tab, settling their accounts only after their paychecks were deposited. ### 4. keyboard key noun · CEFR B1 the key on a computer keyboard used to move the cursor forward several spaces. For teachers: a key on a computer keyboard that inserts a horizontal space or moves the focus to the next input field. - Press the tab key to move to the next box in the form. - The software allows users to navigate through the entire menu system using only the tab and enter keys. ### 5. musical notation noun · CEFR B2 · Informal a simple way of writing music for guitar that shows where to put your fingers. For teachers: a form of musical notation, primarily for fretted string instruments, indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches. - He couldn't read sheet music, so he learned the song using a guitar tab. - While professional musicians often prefer standard notation, many hobbyists find that tabs offer a more intuitive way to learn complex solos. ### 6. drug tablet noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang a small pill or tablet, often used when talking about illegal drugs. For teachers: a small tablet or pill, frequently used in the context of illicit substances or specific medications. - The police found several tabs of acid in the suspect's pocket. - The forensic report confirmed that the tabs contained a mixture of synthetic compounds rather than pure MDMA. ### 7. cigarette noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect · Informal a common word for a cigarette in some parts of the UK. For teachers: a regional term for a cigarette, primarily used in North East England. - He went outside for a quick tab before the meeting started. - The local dialect in Newcastle includes several unique terms, such as using 'tab' to refer to a cigarette. ### 8. to move the cursor verb · CEFR B2 to move across a screen or form by pressing the tab key. For teachers: to advance a cursor or move between input fields using the tab key. Intransitive in this sense. - You can tab through the different sections of the website to save time. - The user interface was designed so that data entry clerks could tab efficiently between fields without needing to use a mouse. ## Examples - Press the tab key to indent the first line of the paragraph. - The group decided to open a tab at the bar so they could pay for all their drinks at once. - Navigating through the digital form requires frequent use of the tab key to move between input fields efficiently without relying on a mouse. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.