Table: meaning, definitions and examples

A flat surface used for various activities like eating, writing, or placing objects. Found in dining rooms, kitchens, or any general living area.

• We put the plates on the dining table
• I often do my homework at the kitchen table

A type of table typically used for working or studying, often equipped with drawers or compartments for storing office supplies.

• He keeps his computer and books on his work desk
• The teacher’s desk is at the front of the classroom

A long, flat surface used primarily for preparing food or displaying items in kitchens or stores.

• She chopped vegetables on the kitchen counter
• The cashier rang up my purchases at the store counter

A sturdy table used for manual work such as woodworking, metalworking, or other crafts. Often found in workshops or garages.

• The carpenter used his workbench to assemble the new chair
• He keeps all his tools organized on the workbench

A table is often used for organizing data in rows and columns, commonly found in documents, reports, and databases.

• The sales data is displayed in a table for easier comparison.
• Please refer to table 4 for the survey results.

Charts are visual representations of data, including graphs like bar, pie, or line charts. They are used to make data easier to understand at a glance.

• The pie chart shows the market share of different companies.
• We included a bar chart to illustrate the increase in sales over time.

Spreadsheets are digital documents used for organizing, analyzing, and storing data in a tabular form, often allowing for complex calculations and data manipulation. Common applications include Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

• Please update the spreadsheet with the latest quarterly figures.
• We track our expenses using a detailed spreadsheet.

A matrix is a mathematical concept but in a broader sense can represent a grid of elements, often used in mathematics, computer science, and sometimes in complex data representation.

• The adjacency matrix of a graph shows the connection between nodes.
• We used a decision matrix to evaluate the potential outcomes.

Often used in legal or academic settings, indicating a formal decision to delay something.

• The judge decided to defer the sentencing until next month.
• The committee decided to defer the discussion until further notice.

Used to indicate that something is put aside or paused indefinitely, often implying a lower priority.

• The company decided to shelve the project due to budget cuts.
• She decided to shelve her plans to travel abroad for now.

Used generally to indicate a late start or interruption, often beyond one's control. It might have a negative connotation.

• The train was delayed by two hours.
• Technical issues caused a delay in the project.