tablecloth — A cloth spread over a table, especially during meals, to protect or decorate it
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A cloth spread over a table, especially during meals, to protect or decorate it
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
Example Sentences
- Mom's fancy tablecloth only comes out when the in-laws visit – it spends more time in storage than a hibernating bear!
- The restaurant's crisp white tablecloth indicated fine dining and higher prices.
- The magician pulled a rabbit from under the tablecloth, shocking everyone at the dinner party.
tablecloth
NOUN[/ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/]
A cloth spread over a table, especially during meals, to protect or decorate it
Cloth covering the dining table
A moth makes holes in the tablecloth!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term emerged in the 14th century as a compound of Old French 'table' (from Latin 'tabula', meaning flat surface) and Old English 'cloth' (from Germanic origins, meaning woven fabric). Originally used by the nobility to protect dining tables and display status, the practice gradually became commonplace.
Breakdown
table (dining surface, from Latin tabula) + cloth (woven fabric, from Old English claþ). The compound combines a functional object with its covering material, creating a word for the decorative linen placed over a table.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Mom's fancy tablecloth only comes out when the in-laws visit – it spends more time in storage than a hibernating bear!”
“The restaurant's crisp white tablecloth indicated fine dining and higher prices.”
“The magician pulled a rabbit from under the tablecloth, shocking everyone at the dinner party.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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