tablecloth

tablecloth — noun

1. a piece of fabric placed across the top of a table, used during meals to keep th

1.nounB2
Definition

a piece of fabric placed across the top of a table, used during meals to keep the surface clean and to add a decorative touch

Example

Daichi helped his mother spread a clean tablecloth over the table before the guests arrived.

spread a clean tablecloth (put out a fresh one)

Gabriel accidentally dripped soup onto the white tablecloth and quickly wiped it with a napkin.

drip/drop [something] onto the tablecloth

Common collocations
  • lay the tablecloth
  • spread a tablecloth
  • put on a clean tablecloth
  • stain the tablecloth
  • fold the tablecloth
  • wash the tablecloth
  • linen tablecloth
  • cotton tablecloth
  • lace tablecloth
  • disposable tablecloth
  • white tablecloth
  • plaid tablecloth
Synonyms
  • table linen

    a more formal term that often includes matching napkins; used in restaurants or formal dining

  • table cover

    a broader term that also includes plastic or vinyl covers used mainly for protection

Grammar Patterns

a/an + tablecloth

the + tablecloth

possessive + tablecloth

Usage Note

Commonly paired with verbs such as spread, put on, fold, and wash. Tablecloths can be made from linen, cotton, lace, or disposable materials.

Common Mistakes

I need a tableclothing for the party.
I need a tablecloth for the party.
tablecloth is a countable noun, not an uncountable one.

Word family

  • napkin
    nounB1
  • placemat
    nounB2
  • tableware
    nounB2
  • table runner
    nounC1
  • table linen
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Tablecloth, table linen, table cover, and placemat all refer to items placed on a table, but they differ in scope and formality. Tablecloth is the everyday word for a large cloth covering the whole table. Table linen is a more formal term that typically refers to a matching set of tablecloth and napkins, often used in restaurants or formal dining. Table cover is a broader term that includes plastic, vinyl, or disposable coverings used mainly for protecting the surface. A placemat is much smaller — it covers only one person's eating area and is used with or without a tablecloth. For example, you might lay a linen tablecloth for a wedding banquet, use a plastic table cover for a children's party, and set placemats on a bare wooden table for a quick breakfast.

table linentable coverplacemat

Common collocations

Nouns

  • tablecloth pattern
  • tablecloth design
  • tablecloth fabric

Phrases

  • spread the tablecloth
  • lay the tablecloth
  • put on a tablecloth
  • take off the tablecloth
  • stain the tablecloth
  • wash the tablecloth
  • iron the tablecloth

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

The word tablecloth comes from two Old English words: tabele (meaning 'table', from Latin tabula 'board, plank') and clāþ (meaning 'cloth' or 'garment'). It has been used since the 1400s to describe a cloth spread over a dining table.