tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈta-blət 

1

a

: a flat slab or plaque suited for or bearing an inscription

b

: a thin slab or one of a set of portable sheets used for writing

c

: pad entry 1 sense 2

2

a

: a small mass of medicated material

an aspirin tablet

b

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

3

a

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

b

: graphics tablet

Synonyms

• notepad
• pad

Examples of tablet in a Sentence

you'll need to use your writing tablet to record all the information that the real estate agent is likely to reel off

take two tablets of the medication every eight hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, eight out of 10 U.S. residents get their news on their phones, tablets or computers. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024

That's the difference between something like the Paper Pro and several Android E Ink tablets from Boox—carefully designed but with limited features, or an Android tablet doing its best with an OS and apps that were not designed with E Ink devices in mind. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 9 Sep. 2024

This cozy corduroy pillow looks right at home on any couch, while handily propping up an e-reader, book, or tablet for strain-free viewing. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2024

Instead, a front light angles the light source down onto the tablet's screen so it's reflected up at your eyes. —Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tablett, from Anglo-French tablet, diminutive of table table

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tablet

• digitizing tablet
• graphics tablet
• tablet computer

Kids Definition

tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈtab-lət 

1

a

: a flat slab suited for an inscription

b

: pad entry 2 sense 4

2

a

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

b

: a small usually round mass of material containing medicine

aspirin tablet

3

a

: graphics tablet

b

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat rectangular form, is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, and reading e-books

Medical Definition

tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈtab-lət 

: a small mass of medicated material (as in the shape of a disk)

an aspirin tablet