tables

From the verb table: (⇒ conjugate)

tables is: ⓘ

v 3rd person singular

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ta•ble /ˈteɪbəl/   n., v., -bled, -bling, adj. 
n. [countable]

1. Furniture a piece of furniture consisting of a flat top supported on one or more legs:
   a table and four chairs for the dining room.
2. Furniture such a piece of furniture used for serving food to those seated at it:
   a table for two at the Café Boeuf.
3. a group of people at a table, as for a meal or a game:
   had the whole table laughing at his jokes.
4. a short, brief list or guide:
   a table of contents.
5. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs displaying a set of facts in a compact form:
   the periodic table (of the chemical elements).

v. [~ + object]

6. Government to lay aside (a bill, etc.) for future discussion:
   The committee couldn't reach agreement and decided to table the bill.

adj. 

7. of, relating to, or suitable for a table:
   a table lamp.

Idioms

8. Idioms, Government on the table:
   • (of a point or issue to be discussed) open for discussion or negotiation:
     The union refused to put the issue of job layoffs on the table; to them it was not negotiable.
9. Idioms turn the tables, [no object* (~ + on + object)] to reverse an unfavorable situation, esp. by gaining the advantage over an opponent:
   They turned the tables on the enemy by counterattacking at dawn.
10. Idioms under the table:
    • secretly, and often dishonestly;
      covertly:
      He slipped the customs officials some money under the table.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ta•ble  (tā′bəl), n., v., -bled, -bling, adj. 
n. 

1. Furniture an article of furniture consisting of a flat, slablike top supported on one or more legs or other supports:
   a kitchen table;
   an operating table;
   a pool table.
2. Furniture such a piece of furniture specifically used for serving food to those seated at it.
3. the food placed on a table to be eaten:
   She sets a good table.
4. a group of persons at a table, as for a meal, game, or business transaction.
5. a gaming table.
6. a flat or plane surface;
   a level area.
7. Geology a tableland or plateau.
8. a concise list or guide:
   a table of contents.
9. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, or combinations of them, as in parallel columns, to exhibit a set of facts or relations in a definite, compact, and comprehensive form;
   a synopsis or scheme.
10. Astronomy (cap.) the constellation Mensa.
11. Building a flat and relatively thin piece of wood, stone, metal, or other hard substance, esp. one artificially shaped for a particular purpose.
12. Architecture
    • a course or band, esp. of masonry, having a distinctive form or position.
    • a distinctively treated surface on a wall.
13. a smooth, flat board or slab on which inscriptions may be put.
14. tables:
    • the tablets on which certain collections of laws were anciently inscribed:
      the tables of the Decalogue.
    • the laws themselves.
15. Anatomy the inner or outer hard layer or any of the flat bones of the skull.
16. Music and Dance a sounding board.
17. [Jewelry.]
    • Jewelry the upper horizontal surface of a faceted gem.
    • Jewelry a gem with such a surface.
18. Government on the table, [Parl. Proc.]
    • Government [U.S.] postponed.
    • , Government, British Terms [Brit.] submitted for consideration.
19. turn the tables, to cause a reversal of an existing situation, esp. with regard to gaining the upper hand over a competitor, rival, antagonist, etc.:
    Fortune turned the tables and we won. We turned the tables on them and undersold them by 50 percent.
20. under the table:
    • drunk.
    • as a bribe;
      secretly:
      She gave money under the table to get the apartment.
21. wait (on) table, to work as a waiter or waitress:
    He worked his way through college by waiting table.
    Also, wait tables. 

v.t. 

22. to place (a card, money, etc.) on a table.
23. to enter in or form into a table or list.
24. [Parl. Proc.]
    • Government [Chiefly U.S.] to lay aside (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for future discussion, usually with a view to postponing or shelving the matter indefinitely.
    • British Terms to present (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for discussion.

adj. 

25. of, pertaining to, or for use on a table:
    a table lamp.
26. suitable for serving at a table or for eating or drinking:
    table grapes.

• Latin: plank, tablet; (verb, verbal) late Middle English: to record on a table, entertain at table, derivative of the noun, nominal
• bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English tabule, variant of tabula

ta′ble•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

table / ˈteɪb^əl/ noun

1. a flat horizontal slab or board, usually supported by one or more legs, on which objects may be placed
2. such a slab or board on which food is served
3. (as modifier): table linen
4. food as served in a particular household or restaurant: a good table
5. such a piece of furniture specially designed for any of various purposes: a backgammon table, bird table
6. a company of persons assembled for a meal, game, etc
7. (as modifier): table talk
8. any flat or level area, such as a plateau
9. a rectangular panel set below or above the face of a wall
10. another name for cordon4
11. an upper horizontal facet of a cut gem
12. the sounding board of a violin, guitar, or similar stringed instrument
13. an arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, usually in parallel columns, to display data or relations
14. See multiplication table
15. a tablet on which laws were inscribed by the ancient Romans, the Hebrews, etc
16. turn the tables on someone ⇒ to cause a complete reversal of circumstances, esp to defeat or get the better of someone who was previously in a stronger position
17. under the table ⇒ (under-the-table when prenominal) (esp of the sale of goods) clandestine, surreptitious, or illegal; not in an open manner
18. drunk

verb (transitive)

1. to place on a table
2. to submit (a bill, etc) for consideration by a legislative body
3. to suspend discussion of (a bill, etc) indefinitely or for some time
4. to enter in or form into a list; tabulate

Etymology: 12th Century: via Old French from Latin tabula a writing tablet