table

1 /'teIbFl/ noun

1 FURNITURE a piece of furniture with a flat top supported by legs: a kitchen table | table lamp (=made to be put on a small table) | book a table (=ask a restaurant to keep a table available for you): I've booked a table for two for 8:00. | lay the table BrE set the table especially AmE (=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal) | clear the table (=take all the empty plates, dishes etc off a table after eating) | at table BrE formal (=sitting around a table having a meal)

—see also: coffee table, high table

2 LIST (C) a list of numbers, facts, or information arranged in rows across and down a page: table of contents: The table of contents at the front will tell you which page it's on.

3 MATHS a list that young children learn, in which all the numbers between 1 and 12 are multiplied by each other: three/four etc times table: He's 12 years old and still doesn't know his three times table.

4 on the table

a) an offer, idea etc that is on the table has been officially suggested and you are considering it: The offer on the table at the moment is a 10% wage increase.

b) AmE an offer, idea etc that is on the table is no longer being considered at the moment but will be dealt with in the future

5 turn the tables (on sb) to suddenly become stronger than the opponent who used to be stronger than you: Suddenly Harry felt that the tables had somehow been turned and that he was now the victim.

6 under the table informal money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally to get what you want: payments made under the table to local officials

7 GROUP the group of people sitting around a table: His stories kept the whole table amused.

—see also: drink sb under the table drink 2 (2) 2 verb (T)

1 BrE table a proposal/question/demand etc to suggest a proposal etc for other people to consider

2 AmE table a bill/measure/proposal etc to leave an offer, idea etc to be dealt with in the future