tile
tyl
Tile (noun) means a thin, flat slab of material such as clay, stone, or ceramic, used to cover roofs, floors, or walls. Example: “A few roof tiles blew off in the storm.”
noun
1
A thin, flat slab of material such as clay, stone, or ceramic, used to cover roofs, floors, or walls.
"A few roof tiles blew off in the storm."
"They chose blue tiles for the bathroom walls."
"One cracked tile in the hallway needs replacing before someone trips on it."
2
A small flat piece used in games such as dominoes, Scrabble, or mahjong.
"She drew a tile with the letter Q on it."
"He slid a wooden tile onto the board to complete the word."
"Each player starts the game by taking seven tiles from the bag."
verb
1
To cover a surface with tiles.
"They spent the weekend tiling the kitchen floor."
"We plan to tile the bathroom walls with small white squares."
"The builder will tile the roof of the garage next week."
How to use tile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat covering piece for roofs, floors, or walls, or a game piece in games like Scrabble.
Common pairings
roof tile
floor tile
tile the bathroom
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Word forms
- Plural
- tiles
- Third person singular
- tiles
- Past tense
- tiled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A few roof _____ blew off in the storm.
Etymology
From Old English tigele, ultimately from Latin tēgula, meaning "roof tile," related to a root meaning "to cover."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tile
See all rhymes for tile →Frequently asked questions
What does “tile” mean?
The word “tile” means a thin, flat slab of material such as clay, stone, or ceramic, used to cover roofs, floors, or walls. In plain terms, a flat covering piece for roofs, floors, or walls, or a game piece in games like Scrabble.
How do you pronounce “tile”?
“Tile” is pronounced tyl (/ˈtaɪ.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tile” in a sentence?
Here is “tile” used in a sentence: “A few roof tiles blew off in the storm.”
What part of speech is “tile”?
Depending on how it is used, “tile” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tile” come from?
The word “tile” comes from Latin. From Old English tigele, ultimately from Latin tēgula, meaning "roof tile," related to a root meaning "to cover.".
Is “tile” a common word?
“Tile” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tile” have?
“Tile” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, flat slab of material such as clay, stone, or ceramic, used to cover roofs, floors, or walls.
What is the difference between a tile and a slab?
A tile is a thin, flat piece of material such as clay, stone, or ceramic used to cover roofs, floors, or walls, while a slab is generally a thicker, heavier flat piece of material like stone or concrete. Tiles are typically smaller and designed for surface covering, whereas slabs are often used as structural or paving elements.
What is the difference between a tile in construction and a tile in board games?
A tile used in building refers to a thin slab covering roofs, floors, or walls, while a tile in games such as dominoes, Scrabble, or mahjong is a small flat piece used for play. Both senses share the idea of a small flat object, but one is decorative or structural and the other is a game piece.
What does it mean to tile a surface?
To tile a surface means to cover it with tiles, such as tiling a bathroom floor or a kitchen wall. The verb use of tile describes the action of installing tiles rather than the tiles themselves.
