Tables and desks

I. ta‧ble¹ S1 W1 /ˈteɪbəl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin tabula 'board, list']
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.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

table

table [table tables tabled tabling] noun, verb [ˈteɪbl] [ˈteɪbl]

noun

FURNITURE
1. a piece of furniture that consists of a flat top supported by legs
• a kitchen table
• A table for two, please (= in a restaurant).
• I'd like to book a table for tonight (= in a restaurant).
• to set the table (= to put the plates, knives, etc. on it for a meal)
• (BrE also) to lay the table
• to clear the table (= take away the dirty plates, etc. at the end of a meal)
• He questioned her next morning over the breakfast table (= during breakfast).
• (BrE, formal) Children must learn to behave at table.

• a billiard/snooker/pool table There are many compounds ending in table. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.

PEOPLE

2. the people sitting at a table for a meal or to play cards, etc
• He kept the whole table entertained with his jokes.

see also round-table

LIST OF FACTS/NUMBERS

3. a list of facts or numbers arranged in a special order, usually in rows and columns
• a table of contents (= a list of the main points or information in a book, usually at the front of the book)
• Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the past 20 years.

see also periodic table

IN SPORT

4. a list of sports teams, countries, schools, etc. that shows their position in a competition, etc
• If Arsenal win this game they'll go to the top of the table.

• school performance league tables

MATHEMATICS

5. = multiplication table
• Do you know your six times table?
see also turntable, water table
more at lay/put your cards on the table at card _n., drink sb under the table at drink _v., wait at tablewait tables at wait _v.
Word Origin:
Old English tabule ‘flat slab, inscribed tablet’, from Latin tabula ‘plank, tablet, list’, reinforced in Middle English by Old French table.
Example Bank:
• He left the table in a hurry.
• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.
• James crawled out from under the table.
• My father always sits at the head of the table.
• Please lay the table for six.
• See Table XII for population figures.
• She leaned across the table and kissed him.
• She often does her homework at the kitchen table.
• She put the vase on the table.
• The league table shows the Danish team in first place with eight points.
• The potato rolled under the table.
• The team will be lucky to finish the season mid-table.
• They flirted over the dinner table.
• They spent hours around the negotiating table.
• They were all five of them sitting around the kitchen table.
• United are second in the table.
• We arranged the party food on a trestle table in the garden.
• We booked a table at the restaurant for 8 p.m.
• We found an empty table at the back of the restaurant.
• We gathered around the table to hear his news.
• We never discuss politics at the breakfast table.
• We turned the box upside down and used it as a makeshift table.
• We'll take the corner table near the bar, please.
• You clear the table and I'll wash the dishes.
• school league tables
• to sit down at the table
• Table 2 shows how prices and earnings have increased over the last 20 years.
• a table of contents

Idioms: bring something to the party ▪ on the table ▪ turn the tables

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

table / ˈteɪ.bl̩ / noun (FURNITURE)

table

A1 [ C ] a flat surface, usually supported by four legs, used for putting things on [ + sing/pl verb ] the people sitting at a table:

There was a really noisy table behind us celebrating someone's birthday.

[ C ] Indian English a table that you work at in an office

→ See also desk (TABLE)

lay/set the table B1 to put a cloth, knives, and forks, etc. on the table in preparation for a meal:

Could you lay the table for lunch, please?

table / ˈteɪ.bl̩ / noun (INFORMATION)

B1 [ C ] an arrangement of facts and numbers in rows or blocks, especially in printed material [ C ] a multiplication table table of contents

a list of the information that is contained in a book

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

table

/teɪb(ə)l/
(tables, tabling, tabled)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A table is a piece of furniture with a flat top that you put things on or sit at.
She was sitting at the kitchen table eating a currant bun...
I placed his drink on the small table at his elbow.
N-COUNT

2.
If someone tables a proposal, they say formally that they want it to be discussed at a meeting. (mainly BRIT)
They’ve tabled a motion criticising the Government for doing nothing about the problem.
= propose
VERB: V n

3.
If someone tables a proposal or plan which has been put forward, they decide to discuss it or deal with it at a later date, rather than straight away. (AM)
We will table that for later.
VERB: V n

4.
A table is a written set of facts and figures arranged in columns and rows.
Consult the table on page 104...
Other research supports the figures in Table 3.3.
N-COUNT: also N num

5.
see also coffee table, dressing table, negotiating table, round table, tea table

6.
If you put something on the table, you present it at a meeting for it to be discussed.
This is one of the best packages we’ve put on the table in years...
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR

7.
If you turn the tables on someone, you change the situation completely, so that instead of them causing problems for you, you are causing problems for them.
The only question is whether the President can use his extraordinary political skills to turn the tables on his opponents.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR on n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹ta·ble /ˈteɪbəl/ noun, pl tables [count]
1 a : a piece of furniture that has a flat top and one or more legs
• They were sitting at/around the dining/dinner table.
• She reserved a table for two at the restaurant.
• Please set the table for dinner. [=place plates, silverware, etc., on the table]
- see also coffee table, end table
b : a piece of furniture with a flat surface that is designed to be used for a particular purpose
• a billiard/poker table
- see also card table, drawing table, negotiating table, operating table
2 : a group of people who are sitting at a table
• He had the attention of the entire table.
3 : a collection of information that is arranged in rows and columns
• The table shows the salary of each employee.
- see also multiplication table, periodic table, times table
at table Brit : sitting at a table and eating a meal
• The whole family was at table.
lay/put (all/all of) your cards on the table
- see ¹card
on the table : able to be considered or discussed
• All options are on the table.
• A new contract offer is on the table.
run the table chiefly US
1 pool, billiards, etc. : to hit all the remaining balls into pockets without missing
2 informal : to win all the remaining games, points, etc.
• The team could run the table to win the league championship.
table of contents
- see ¹content
turn the tables : to change a situation completely so that you have an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you - often + on
• He turned the tables on his attacker and pinned him to the ground.
under the table
1
- used to describe a situation in which a worker is being paid in a secret and illegal way in order to avoid paying taxes
• They were paying her under the table.
• He's working under the table.
2 informal
✦To drink someone under the table means to drink more alcohol than someone else without becoming extremely drunk, unconscious, etc.
• He tried to drink me under the table.

0

desk

desk [noun] (TABLE)

US

/desk/

UK

/desk/

Example:

she sat behind her desk and wrote two letters

A type of table that you can work at, often one with drawers

Persian equivalent:

Click here.

Example:

she sat behind her desk and wrote two letters

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

desk

noun

1 a type of table, often with drawers, that you sit at to write or work:
The pupils took their books out of their desks.

2 a table or place in a building where somebody gives information, etc.:
Ask at the information desk.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

desk

desk S2 W2 /desk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: desca, from Latin discus 'dish, disk']

1. a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to write and work:
Marie was sitting at her desk.
2. a place where you can get information or use a particular service in a hotel, airport etc:
the reception desk
the check-in desk
3. an office that deals with a particular subject, especially in newspapers or television
the news/sports desk
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ tidy How come your desk is always so tidy?
▪ cluttered (=covered with papers, books etc in an untidy way) His desk is so cluttered he can't find anything.
▪ empty (=that no one is using) There are one or two empty desks in the office.
▪ a school desk The children are at their school desks by 8:30 in the morning.
▪ an office desk I got back from holiday to find piles of papers on my office desk.
▪ a writing desk (=that you use for writing letters etc) Under the window was a small writing desk.
▪ a wooden/mahogany/rosewood etc desk He sat at a plain wooden desk.
■ verbs
▪ sit at a desk I don't want to do a job in which I'm sitting at a desk all day.
▪ get up from your desk He got up from his desk to welcome the visitors.
▪ tidy your desk I need to tidy my desk.
▪ clear your desk (=remove all the papers etc from it) It's a good idea to clear your desk regularly.
■ desk + NOUN
▪ a desk job (=working mostly at a desk in an office) He left his desk job to become a gardener.
▪ a desk drawer I think I left my car keys in the desk drawer.
▪ a desk lamp Don't forget to switch off the desk lamp.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

desk

desk [desk desks] [desk] [desk] noun
1. a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to read, write, work, etc
• He used to be a pilot but now he has a desk job.

2. a place where you can get information or be served at an airport, a hotel, etc
• the check-in desk
• the reception desk

see also cash desk, front desk

3. an office at a newspaper, television company, etc. that deals with a particular subject
• the sports desk
see also city desk, news desk
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from medieval Latin desca, probably based on Provençal desca ‘basket’ or Italian desco ‘table, butcher's block’, both based on Latin discus from Greek diskos.
Example Bank:
• A very strange request landed on my desk this morning.
• He got up from his desk and went to the window.
• He was sitting at his desk working when we got home.
• I left the file on your desk.
• I worked the front desk as one of my first jobs.
• Leave your valuables at the reception desk.
• My desk gets very cluttered if I don't clear it at the end of each day.
• Papers littered the desk and the floor.
• She called the front desk to let them know that he would be arriving.
• She paid for the book at the cash desk.
• Staff experiencing problems with their computers should call the help desk.
• The empty desk suggested she had already gone home.
• The manager sat frowning behind his desk throughout the whole interview.
• There was a long queue at the check-in desk.
• They put me on desk duty for a month.
• We asked the man on the information desk for a map of the city.

• a computer which takes up less desk space

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

desk / desk / noun [ C ] (TABLE)

desk

A1 a type of table that you can work at, often one with drawers:

an office/school desk

She sat at her desk writing letters.

He had a pile of papers on his desk.

The report arrived on/landed on/reached my desk (= I received it) this morning.

See picture in the office

desk / desk / noun [ C ] (SERVICE AREA)

a place, often with a counter (= a long flat narrow surface) especially in a hotel or airport, where you can get information or service:

a check-in/information/reception desk

desk / desk / noun [ C ] (NEWSPAPER OFFICE)

an office that deals with a particular type of news for a newspaper or broadcasting company:

the foreign/sports desk

Now let's hear from Sue at our travel desk.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

desk

/desk/
(desks)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A desk is a table, often with drawers, which you sit at to write or work.
N-COUNT

2.
The place in a hotel, hospital, airport, or other building where you check in or obtain information is referred to as a particular desk.
I spoke to the girl on the reception desk...
N-SING: usu supp N

3.
A particular department of a broadcasting company, or of a newspaper or magazine company, can be referred to as a particular desk.
Over now to Simon Ingram at the sports desk.
N-SING: supp N

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

desk

desk /ˈdɛsk/ noun, pl desks [count]
1 : a piece of furniture that is like a table and often has drawers
✦People often sit at desks when they are writing or using a computer.
• a cluttered desk
• a classroom with desks arranged in rows
✦Often desk refers specifically to the desk a person uses to do his or her job.
• I'm sorry I missed your call. I've been away from my desk.
- often used before another noun
• a desk lamp/calendar/chair
• She left her desk job [=the job that she did while sitting at a desk] to become a farmer.
- see picture at office
2 : a place where people can get information or be served at an office, a hotel, etc.
• an information desk at an airport
• We will ask for directions to the restaurant at the front desk.
• We went to the reception desk to check into our room.
3 : the part of a company or organization that deals with a particular subject
• the television network's financial/foreign desk [=department]
• the newspaper's sports desk
• the news desk [=the office where news is gathered to be reported in a newspaper, on television, etc.]
- see also city desk