table napkin
Definition
Noun: A small piece of cloth, typically made of linen or paper, used during a meal to wipe one's mouth and fingers and to protect one's clothing by being placed on the lap.
Usage
A table napkin is an essential item for formal and informal dining. It is placed on the lap at the beginning of a meal and used as needed. It is distinct from a larger tablecloth that covers the entire table.
Examples
- Noun:
- Please place the table napkin on your lap before the soup is served.
- She discreetly wiped her lips with her linen table napkin.
- For the picnic, we brought paper table napkins.
Advanced Usage
- "to fold a table napkin": to arrange a napkin into a decorative shape, often done for formal table settings.
- The waiter expertly folded the table napkin into the shape of a swan.
- "a table napkin ring": a ring, often decorative, used to hold a rolled or folded cloth napkin.
- Each guest had a personalized silver table napkin ring.
Variants and Related Words
- Napkin (n): A more common, shorter term for "table napkin." The meaning is identical.
- Could you pass me a napkin, please?
- Serviette (n): A synonym for "table napkin," more commonly used in British English.
- He asked for a clean serviette.
Synonyms
- Napkin: The most direct and frequently used synonym.
- Serviette: A formal synonym, primarily used in British English.
- Dinner napkin: Specifies a napkin used for a main meal, often implying a larger or more formal cloth.
Related Phrases
- Paper napkin: A napkin made of paper, typically used for casual dining or fast food.
- The cafe provided paper napkins in a dispenser.
- Linen napkin: A napkin made of linen fabric, associated with formal dining.
- The fine restaurant set the table with white linen napkins.
Noun
-
a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing
