table-cloth
Definition
- Noun:
- A cloth used to cover a table: "table-cloth" refers to a piece of fabric, often made of cotton, linen, or plastic, spread over a table, especially during meals, to protect the surface or for decoration.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She spread a clean white table-cloth over the dining table before the guests arrived. (A fabric covering for the table, used for meals.)
- The table-cloth had a stain from the red wine, so it needed to be washed. (The cloth covering the table was dirty.)
Advanced Usage
"to lay the table-cloth": to place a table-cloth on a table in preparation for a meal.
- He helped his mother lay the table-cloth for the family dinner. (He positioned the cloth on the table.)
"table-cloth pattern": a specific design or motif printed on the fabric used as a table-cloth.
- The table-cloth pattern featured small blue flowers. (The design on the cloth was floral.)
Variants and Related Words
Tablecloth (n): a common alternative spelling without a hyphen; same meaning.
- The restaurant uses a crisp white tablecloth for every table. (A cloth covering the table.)
Table linen (n): a broader term that includes table-cloths, napkins, and other fabric items used for dining.
- She purchased new table linen for the holiday party. (Fabric items for the table, including a table-cloth.)
Synonyms
- Cloth: a piece of fabric used for a specific purpose (e.g., a table-cloth).
- Cover: something that covers a surface (e.g., a table cover).
- Runner: a narrow strip of fabric placed on a table, often for decoration, distinct from a full table-cloth.
Related Idioms
- "under the table-cloth": an informal phrase meaning hidden or secret (not directly related to the literal meaning).
- The negotiations were conducted under the table-cloth, away from public view. (In secret, hidden from others.)
Phrasal Verbs
- "to table-cloth": a rare, non-standard verb form meaning to cover with a table-cloth.
- She table-clothed the picnic table before setting out the food. (She covered the table with a cloth.)