tablecloth

noun

ta·​ble·​cloth ˈtā-bəl-ˌklȯth How to pronounce tablecloth (audio)
: a covering spread over a dining table before the tableware is set

Examples of tablecloth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If, during the dinner, the tablecloth is spotted or soiled, a fresh napkin is immediately placed over it. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 The neighborhood, which stretches from 59th to 96th Streets, has long been a pillar of fine dining in New York City, known for its white tablecloth restaurants that have served patrons for decades—and in some cases, for well over half a century. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025 Get your linen tablecloths ready, some cute cocktail napkins, and a dish of flaky sea salt. Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025 More than a thousand people gathered for a picnic on Saturday around tables draped with white tablecloths and spread over the lawn of the Legion of Honor art museum in San Francisco. Simon J. Levien, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tablecloth

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tablecloth was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tablecloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablecloth. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

tablecloth

noun
ta·​ble·​cloth ˈtā-bəl-ˌklȯth How to pronounce tablecloth (audio)
: a covering spread over a dining table before the places are set

More from Merriam-Webster on tablecloth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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