table napkin

Thân thiện

A folded table napkin rests beside a dinner plate.

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.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing

Từ đồng nghĩa

• napkin
• serviette