ta·ble·top
ˈtā-bəl-ˌtäp 
variants
or less commonly table top
or table-top
plural tabletops also table tops or table-tops
1
: the top or surface of a table
a wooden tabletop
… slaps his palm on the table-top … to emphasize a point …—
Seamus Heffernan
Seamus Heffernan2
: a photograph of small objects or a miniature scene arranged on a table
Photographing scenes or objects or people as or where we find them is great fun, but if you have never tried tabletops you have missed one real creative branch of photography.—Robert A. Bohlen
Robert A. BohlenBoth have won several awards for their [photographic] work, exhibited locally and internationally. He specializes in portraits, she prefers "table tops" or still-life arrangements.—Charlie Fidelman
Charlie Fidelman
also
: photography involving such photographs
Everyone's goal seemed to be soft, shadowless lighting. I didn't like it, although for a time—like everyone in tabletop—I subscribed to it. —Bruce Wolf, quoted in Photo District News
Bruce Wolf, quoted in Photo District News
variants
or less commonly table-top
or table top
1
: designed or suitable for use or display on a tabletop or similar surface
This symmetrical conifer is a standard tabletop Christmas tree.—Jim McCausland
Jim McCausland… offers full-sized propane heaters and smaller table-top models …—Brent Hallenbeck
Brent HallenbeckTabletop games, which can be played at bars, game shops and cafes … incorporate many types of play …—Sam Sanders
Sam Sanders2
: of, relating to, or involving games (such as board games or card games) that are designed to be played at or on a table
Three years ago, a team of tabletop industry experts gathered to create the American alternative to … Germany's prestigious board game awards.—Charlie Hall
Charlie Hall… a giant board game release party, where publishers unleash their newest games to the most committed and enthusiastic tabletop gamers.—Aaron Zimmerman
Aaron ZimmermanThere are several benefits to tabletop gaming: it provides positive social interaction, … it's democratic and (for the most part) appropriate for all ages, and there is a game for practically every type of concept or genre.—M. Brandon Robbins
M. Brandon Robbins3
photography
: of or relating to tabletops (see tabletop entry 1 sense 2)
Glassware photography is a subset of table top photography but it is the trickiest of the lot.—Smart Photography
: being a tabletop
Smart PhotographyYour first step in making a tabletop photo is to choose a toy that is realistic in appearance and suitable in size. Then plan your story idea carefully before building your setup.—Lloyd Van Horsen
Lloyd Van HorsenExamples of tabletop in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meghie Rodrigues, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2025
The wrong tabletop had been replaced with the right one.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
AmazStove Tabletop Fire Pit Making s’mores and staying warm on chilly nights has never been easier thanks to this tabletop fire pit.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tabletop
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Noun
Singh says the mercury telluride device’s development represents a step toward on-chip THz sources—a prerequisite for miniaturizing today’s bulky tabletop systems into components suitable for consumer or data-center use.
—Meghie Rodrigues, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2025
The wrong tabletop had been replaced with the right one.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Use it as a piece of tabletop decor or flank your front door with a collection of faux pumpkins and gourds to create an inviting entryway.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
AmazStove Tabletop Fire Pit Making s’mores and staying warm on chilly nights has never been easier thanks to this tabletop fire pit.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tabletop
Cite this Entry
“Tabletop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabletop. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tabletop
noun
ta·ble·top
ˈtā-bəl-ˌtäp
: the top of a table
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