Definitions
01furniture
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
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.
日本語:テーブル、表※
“We all sat around the large wooden table for Sunday dinner.”
“The designer selected a minimalist glass table to ensure the small dining area felt open and uncluttered.”
02data display
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing
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.
“The second table in the report shows how much prices have risen.”
“The researcher compiled the survey results into a comprehensive table to highlight the correlation between income and education levels.”
03group of people
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
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.
“The whole table laughed when he told the joke.”
“The waiter noticed that table four had been waiting for their drinks for over twenty minutes.”
04to propose (UK) or postpone (US)
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
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'.
Español:traer a discusión
“The committee decided to table the new proposal until the next meeting.”
“The opposition member intended to table an amendment, but the chairperson ruled that the motion was out of order.”
Usage
In the US, this verb is usually transitive and implies delaying a topic; in the UK, it implies initiating a topic.
Teaching tip
This is a famous 'false friend' between British and American English. Always clarify the intent in international meetings to avoid confusion.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “table” in context.
Real-World Examples
“A great coffee table feels like a quiet, confident anchor in a living room.” “If you are evaluating case law, consider creating a table that summarizes essential facts, decisions, and reasoning behind each case.” “Legislation will be tabled this week that government sources said would "surgically" remove that particular section of the new guidelines.” “Vatican envoy and cardinal Benjamin Stella said in Havana on Wednesday a potential amnesty for prisoners jailed in Cuba following anti-government protests in July 2021 was "on the table" but that the response did not depend on the Roman Catholic Church.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
02. clear the table
03. farm to table
04. fence the tables
05. kiddie table
07. pizza table
09. put one's cards on the table
10. table scrap
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/table
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0