- 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 table2 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 tablea) 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 future5 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 officials7 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 consider2 AmE table a bill/measure/proposal etc to leave an offer, idea etc to be dealt with in the future
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.