table

table

I

ta‧ble¹ S1 W1 /ˈteɪbəl/ noun [countable]
1.  FURNITURE a piece of furniture with a flat top supported by legs:
    The food was served on long tables. ⇨ coffee table, dressing table
2.  RESTAURANT a table for people to eat at in a restaurant :
    I've booked a table for two.
3.  SPORT/GAME snooker/billiard/ping-pong etc table a special table for playing a particular indoor sport or game on
4.  LIST a list of numbers, facts, or information arranged in rows across and down a page
    table of
    a table of results
    the table of contents
5. on the table an offer, idea etc that is on the table has been officially suggested and someone is considering it:
    The offer on the table is a 10% wage increase.
6. turn the tables (on somebody) to change a situation completely, so that someone loses an advantage and you gain one:
    The tables were turned in the second half, when Leeds United scored from the penalty spot.
7. under the table informal money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally:
    Payments were made under the table to local officials.
8.  MATHS times table a list that young children learn, in which all the numbers between 1 and 12 are multiplied by each other
   SYN  multiplication table
    three/four etc times table
    He’s 12 years old and still doesn’t know his three times table.
9.  GROUP the group of people sitting around a table:
    His stories kept the whole table amused.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ set/lay the table (=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal) The table was set for fourteen.
   ▪ clear the table (=take plates etc off) Do you want me to clear the table?
   ▪ sit at a table He was sitting at a corner table.
   ▪ sit around a table We sat around the table and talked.
   ▪ get up from/leave the table She stood up from her chair and left the table.
   ▪ book/reserve a table (=in a restaurant) I've booked a table for four at a local restaurant.
■ NOUN + table
   ▪ dinner/breakfast table Will you clear the breakfast table?
   ▪ bedside/kitchen/dining-room table They were chatting around the kitchen table.

II

table² verb [transitive]
1. table a proposal/question/motion etc British English to formally present a proposal etc for other people to discuss:
    Dr Clark tabled a motion for debate at next month’s committee meeting.
2. table a bill/measure/proposal etc American English to leave a bill etc to be discussed or dealt with in the future