table
table [table tables tabled tabling] noun, verb BrE [ˈteɪbl] NAmE [ˈteɪbl]
noun
FURNITURE
1. a piece of furniture that consists of a flat top supported by legs
•a kitchen table
• A table for two, please (= in a restaurant).
• I'd like to book a table for tonight (= in a restaurant).
•to set the table (= to put the plates, knives, etc. on it for a meal)
• (BrE also)to lay the table
•to clear the table (= take away the dirty plates, etc. at the end of a meal)
•He questioned her next morning over the breakfast table (= during breakfast).
• (BrE, formal)Children must learn to behave at table.
•a billiard/snooker/pool table There are many compounds ending in table. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
PEOPLE
2. the people sitting at a table for a meal or to play cards, etc
•He kept the whole table entertained with his jokes.
see also ↑round-table
LIST OF FACTS/NUMBERS
3. a list of facts or numbers arranged in a special order, usually in rows and columns
•a table of contents (= a list of the main points or information in a book, usually at the front of the book)
• Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the past 20 years.
see also ↑periodic table
IN SPORT
4. a list of sports teams, countries, schools, etc. that shows their position in a competition, etc
• If Arsenal win this game they'll go to the top of the table.
•school performance league tables
MATHEMATICS
5. = ↑multiplication table
•Do you know your six times table?
see also ↑turntable, ↑water table
more at lay/put your cards on the table at ↑card n., drink sb under the table at ↑drink v., wait at tablewait tables at ↑wait v.
Word Origin:
Old English tabule ‘flat slab, inscribed tablet’, from Latin tabula ‘plank, tablet, list’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French table.
Example Bank:
•He left the table in a hurry.
•He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.
•James crawled out from under the table.
•My father always sits at the head of the table.
•Please lay the table for six.
•See Table XII for population figures.
•She leaned across the table and kissed him.
•She often does her homework at the kitchen table.
•She put the vase on the table.
•The league table shows the Danish team in first place with eight points.
•The potato rolled under the table.
•The team will be lucky to finish the season mid-table.
•They flirted over the dinner table.
•They spent hours around the negotiating table.
•They were all five of them sitting around the kitchen table.
•United are second in the table.
•We arranged the party food on a trestle table in the garden.
•We booked a table at the restaurant for 8 p.m.
•We found an empty table at the back of the restaurant.
•We gathered around the table to hear his news.
•We never discuss politics at the breakfast table.
•We turned the box upside down and used it as a makeshift table.
•We'll take the corner table near the bar, please.
•You clear the table and I'll wash the dishes.
•school league tables
•to sit down at the table
•Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the last 20 years.
•a table of contents
Idioms: ↑bring something to the party ▪ ↑on the table ▪ ↑turn the tables
verb
1. ~ sth (BrE)to present sth formally for discussion
•to table a question in Parliament
•They have tabled a motion for debate at the next Party Conference.
2. ~ sth (NAmE)to leave an idea, a proposal, etc. to be discussed at a later date
•They voted to table the proposal until the following meeting.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English tabule ‘flat slab, inscribed tablet’, from Latin tabula ‘plank, tablet, list’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French table.
Example Bank:
•He has tabled a question on this issue for tomorrow's council meeting.
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