table
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a piece of furniture with a flat top and legs, used for eating, writing, or working.
n.a piece of furniture consisting of a flat top supported by one or more legs, used as a surface for various activities.
Simple“We all sat around the large wooden table for Sunday dinner.”
In context“The designer selected a minimalist glass table to ensure the small dining area felt open and uncluttered.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a list of facts or numbers arranged in rows and columns.
n.a systematic arrangement of data, typically in rows and columns, for easy reference or analysis.
Simple“The second table in the report shows how much prices have risen.”
In context“The researcher compiled the survey results into a comprehensive table to highlight the correlation between income and education levels.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.the people sitting together at a table.
n.a metonymic reference to the group of people seated at a table for a meal or discussion.
Simple“The whole table laughed when he told the joke.”
In context“The waiter noticed that table four had been waiting for their drinks for over twenty minutes.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to suggest an idea for discussion; in American English, it can also mean to stop discussing something.
v.to submit a motion or report for discussion. Note the regional contronym: in British English it means to 'bring forward', while in American English it means to 'shelve' or 'postpone'.
Simple“The committee decided to table the new proposal until the next meeting.”
In context“The opposition member intended to table an amendment, but the chairperson ruled that the motion was out of order.”
UsageIn the US, this verb is usually transitive and implies delaying a topic; in the UK, it implies initiating a topic.
Teacher's tipThis is a famous 'false friend' between British and American English. Always clarify the intent in international meetings to avoid confusion.
Usage contingency table · following table · table contain
Inherited from Middle English table, tabel, tabil, tabul, from Old English tabele, tabul, tablu, tabule, tabula (“board”); also as tæfl, tæfel, an early Germanic borrowing of Latin tabula (“tablet, board, plank, chart”). The sense of “piece of furniture” is from Old French table, of same Latin origin; Old English used bēod or bord instead for this meaning: see board. Doublet of tabula and tavla.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.