Tile

/taɪl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A thin rectangular piece of baked clay, plastic, or other material used for covering surfaces such as floors, walls, and roofs.
The bathroom was renovated with elegant ceramic tiles.
A flat piece of material used in games such as dominoes or board games.
He placed a tile on the board and scored double points.
verb
To cover a surface with tiles.
We plan to tile the kitchen floor with modern gray tiles.

Etymology

Middle English 'tile', from Old French 'tile', from Latin 'tegula'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

tile floor:
a floor covered with tiles.
tile roof:
a roof made with overlapping tiles.
time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana:
a humorous play on words involving 'flies' as both a verb and noun.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

To tile someone off
He really tiled me off with that comment.
To tile it
Let's just tile it and move on.