table
table — noun
1. a piece of household furniture with a flat top held up by legs, used for eating
a piece of household furniture with a flat top held up by legs, used for eating meals, doing work, or holding objects
Dahlia set the plates on the dining table and called everyone for dinner.
collocation: set the table / dining table
Tamás bought a small wooden table for his balcony to hold his coffee mug and books.
table used for holding objects
The kitchen table was covered with newspapers and homework papers.
A heavy glass vase stood in the middle of the round oak table.
用法筆記
Commonly modified by the room or function: 'kitchen table', 'dining table', 'coffee table'. 'Table' alone usually implies a dining or kitchen table.
常見錯誤
2. the people gathered around a table at the same time, such as when eating togethe
the people gathered around a table at the same time, such as when eating together or holding a discussion
The whole table burst into laughter when Quan told his funny story.
collective noun: 'the whole table' = everyone sitting there
Aarav looked around the table to see if anyone wanted more water.
The table agreed to meet again the following Tuesday to continue the discussion.
A murmur of disagreement passed around the table when Christopher suggested changing the menu.
文法句型
the whole table
the table + singular/plural verb
用法筆記
Used as a collective noun; takes a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is seen as a unit or as individuals (e.g. 'The table was silent' vs. 'The table were all talking at once').
3. a piece of furniture with a flat surface used for working on in an office, often
a piece of furniture with a flat surface used for working on in an office, often with drawers
Elena cleared her table before starting the new project report.
collocation: clear the table (office context)
Folake keeps a photograph of her children on her office table next to the computer.
Gabriel pushed his keyboard aside to make room on the table for the printed documents.
Quan stacked the folders neatly on his office table before leaving for the day.
- desk
the standard term in American English for office work surfaces
用法筆記
In American English, 'desk' is more common than 'table' for office furniture. 'Table' in this sense may sound slightly British or old-fashioned.
4. a table on which plates, cups, and eating tools have been arranged so that peopl
a table on which plates, cups, and eating tools have been arranged so that people can eat a meal
The hotel promised a fine table with fresh flowers and linen napkins every evening.
collocation: 'a fine table' = generous meal spread
Christopher's grandmother always kept a good table with three courses for Sunday lunch.
idiom: 'keep a good table' = provide plentiful food
Samir helped his mother lay the table with clean plates and shiny forks.
The wedding hall prepared a beautiful table with gold plates and white roses for the bride and groom.
用法筆記
Found in fixed phrases such as 'keep a good table' (provide abundant food) and 'lay the table' / 'set the table' (arrange dishes and utensils). Not used as freely as sense 1.
5. a set of information shown in rows going across and columns going down, making t
a set of information shown in rows going across and columns going down, making the data easy to read and compare
The table on page twelve shows the sales figures for each region.
typical use: reference by page/location
Yumi created a table in her notebook to compare the prices of different laptops.
collocation: create a table
Darius read the table of population numbers and found that Tokyo had the largest city population.
The table of contents lists the chapters in order, but the data table inside each chapter lists the facts.
- chart
uses visual elements like bars or lines instead of number grids
- grid
emphasizes the structure of rows and columns
- spreadsheet
a digital table used in software like Excel
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'chart' and 'graph', which use pictures rather than rows and columns. A 'table' is text and numbers arranged in a grid.
常見錯誤
6. a list that shows what number you get when you multiply a particular number by o
a list that shows what number you get when you multiply a particular number by other numbers, often learned by children at school
The students recited the three times table out loud during morning math practice.
collocation: 'times table' = multiplication table
Olivia had trouble remembering the seven times table until her father made up a song to help her.
Knowing the multiplication tables by heart makes solving math problems much faster.
Darius challenged his younger sister to a race reciting the six times table.
- times table
the common everyday term, especially when talking about children learning them
用法筆記
Often shortened to just 'times table' in everyday conversation. Children typically learn tables from 1× to 12×.
7. a list at the front of a book that shows the titles of each section and the page
a list at the front of a book that shows the titles of each section and the page where each one starts
Quan checked the table of contents to find the chapter about the French Revolution.
full phrase: 'table of contents'
The table at the start of the manual lists all the topics covered in the training course.
A good table of contents helps readers quickly find the information they need.
Yumi flipped to the table of contents to see how many chapters were in the novel.
- contents
the shorter, more common term for the list at the front of a book
用法筆記
Almost always used in the full phrase 'table of contents'. In book publishing, it is often abbreviated as 'TOC'.
table — verb
1. to formally suggest that a committee, parliament, or other official group discus
to formally suggest that a committee, parliament, or other official group discuss a particular matter
The opposition party tabled a motion to investigate the handling of public funds.
typical collocation: 'table a motion' (UK)
Gabriel tabled a question about school funding at the town council meeting.
A proposal to build new cycle lanes was tabled by the local environmental group.
Dahlia tabled an amendment to the housing plan during the committee session.
- propose
more general and neutral; does not carry the parliamentary formality
- submit
focuses on handing something in for consideration
- put forward
a phrasal verb with a similar meaning
文法句型
table + noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the British English meaning. In American English, 'table' means the opposite — to postpone discussion. Always check which variety is being used.
常見錯誤
2. to decide not to discuss or deal with something officially until a later time
to decide not to discuss or deal with something officially until a later time
The Senate voted to table the bill until the next session.
typical US usage: 'table the bill'
Elena moved to table the proposal, saying the committee needed more data before voting.
The discussion was tabled because too many members were absent from the meeting.
The committee voted to table the budget debate until the new financial report arrived.
文法句型
table + noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the American English meaning — directly opposite to the British sense. In US parliamentary procedure, tabling a bill usually kills it or sets it aside indefinitely.
常見錯誤
3. to organize information, especially numbers or facts, into rows and columns so t
to organize information, especially numbers or facts, into rows and columns so that it is easy to read and compare
The research assistant tabled the survey results and highlighted the key differences.
collocation: 'table results / data'
All the test scores were tabled by class so the teacher could compare the students' progress.
passive: 'were tabled by'
Yumi tabled the monthly expenses in a spreadsheet for the team to review.
The hospital tabled the patient data by age group to study the effects of the new treatment.
- scatter
to spread data randomly rather than organizing it
文法句型
table + noun phrase
用法筆記
Also expressed using the synonym 'tabulate', which is more common in academic and technical writing. 'Table' as a verb is shorter but less frequent.
4. to provide information or sell items from a small temporary station in a public
to provide information or sell items from a small temporary station in a public space
The charity volunteers tabled outside the train station to collect donations for the animal shelter.
collocation: 'table outside / in / at [location]'
Folake tabled at the school fair to sell handmade jewelry and candles.
Student groups tabled on campus all week to encourage people to register to vote.
A local farm tabled at the market every Saturday to sell fresh apples and honey.
- set up a booth
more general; 'table' implies a simple table rather than a full booth structure
- canvass
involves going out to talk to people directly, not just sitting at a table
文法句型
table + at/for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in North American university and community organizing contexts. The focus is on the table as a physical stall or booth, not on formal discussion.
table — adjective
1. designed or intended to be placed on or used with a table, especially in a home
designed or intended to be placed on or used with a table, especially in a home
Darius bought a new table lamp for his bedside table because the old one was too dim.
typical compound: 'table lamp'
The table mat protected the wooden surface from the heat of the hot pot.
typical compound: 'table mat'
A white tablecloth covered the long table for the wedding reception.
Aarav picked a blue table runner to match the plates at the birthday dinner.
文法句型
table + noun
用法筆記
Used only before a noun in compound terms like 'table lamp', 'table mat', 'tablecloth'. This is not a free-standing adjective; it always modifies a noun.
2. suitable for being eaten or drunk as part of a meal, rather than for cooking or
suitable for being eaten or drunk as part of a meal, rather than for cooking or other uses
The chef chose table grapes because they are sweeter than the ones used for winemaking.
typical compound: 'table grapes'
A bottle of table wine is usually less expensive than a fine vintage wine.
typical compound: 'table wine'
Table salt is finer than kosher salt and dissolves more quickly in food.
The restaurant served table olives and fresh bread before the main course arrived.
- cooking
'cooking wine' or 'cooking salt' is meant for use in recipes, not for direct serving at the table
文法句型
table + noun
用法筆記
Used in food-industry terms to distinguish everyday eating/drinking products from specialized or luxury versions. 'Table wine' is ordinary wine for everyday meals.
3. relating to the accepted ways of behaving while eating with other people at a di
relating to the accepted ways of behaving while eating with other people at a dining table
Samir learned table manners from his grandfather, who insisted on sitting up straight while eating.
typical compound: 'table manners'
Table etiquette varies widely across different cultures and countries.
alternative phrasing: 'table etiquette'
The children were taught proper table behavior, such as not speaking with food in their mouths.
Folake's parents taught her good table manners, like saying please before asking for a dish.
文法句型
table + noun
用法筆記
Almost always paired with 'manners' or 'etiquette'. Not used with other nouns — you would not say 'table conduct' as a natural compound.