Advertisement

View synonyms for tab

tab

1

[ tab ]

noun

  1. a small flap, strap, loop, or similar appendage, as on a garment, used for pulling, hanging, or decoration.
  2. a tag or label.
  3. a small projection from a card, paper, or folder, used as an aid in filing.
  4. Informal.
    1. a bill, as for a meal in a restaurant; check:

      That dinner went way over my budget, so I was relieved when she offered to pick up the tab.

    2. a list of accruing costs, as drinks ordered in a bar: .

      Go ahead and order another round of beers—we’ve got a running tab

  5. a small piece attached or intended to be attached, as to an automobile license plate.
  6. a small flap or tongue of material used to seal or close the opening of a container.
  7. Also called tabulator,. a key on a typewriter that moves the carriage, typing element, etc., a predetermined number of spaces, used for typing text in columns, for fixed indentations, etc.
  8. Also called tab key. a key on a computer keyboard that moves the cursor a predetermined number of spaces, used for keying text in columns or form fields, for fixed indentations, etc.
  9. Digital Technology.
    1. (in a web browser window or in a spreadsheet or other application) a page displayed by clicking on or selecting a user interface element that resembles a paper tab:

      The third tab in the spreadsheet list expenses.

    2. the display of this user interface element:

      I have too many tabs open in my browser right now.

  10. Theater.
    1. a small, often narrow, drop curtain, for masking part of the stage.
  11. Aeronautics. a small airfoil hinged to the rear portion of a control surface, as to an elevator, aileron, or rudder. Compare trim tab.


verb (used with object)

, tabbed, tab·bing.
  1. to furnish or ornament with a tab or tabs.
  2. to name or designate.

verb (used without object)

, tabbed, tab·bing.
  1. to operate the tab function on a typewriter or computer.

tab

2

[ tab ]

noun

  1. Slang. a tablet, as of a drug or medication.
  2. Informal. tabloid ( def 1 ).

tab.

3

abbreviation for

  1. tables.
  2. (in prescriptions) tablet.

TAB

1

abbreviation for

  1. typhoid-paratyphoid A and B (vaccine)
  2. Totalizator Agency Board


tab

2

/ tæb /

noun

  1. a small flap of material, esp one on a garment for decoration or for fastening to a button
  2. any similar flap, such as a piece of paper attached to a file for identification
  3. a small auxiliary aerofoil on the trailing edge of a rudder, aileron, or elevator, etc, to assist in the control of the aircraft in flight See also trim tab
  4. military the insignia on the collar of a staff officer
  5. a bill, esp one for a meal or drinks
  6. dialect.
    a cigarette
  7. keep tabs on informal.
    keep tabs on to keep a watchful eye on

verb

  1. tr to supply (files, clothing, etc) with a tab or tabs

tab.

3

abbreviation for

  1. table (list or chart)

tab

4

/ tæb /

noun

  1. short for tabulator tablet
  2. slang.
    a portion of a drug, esp LSD or ecstasy

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of tab1

First recorded in 1600–10; most senses of unknown origin; tab 1indef 7 short for tabulator; tab 1indef 10 short for tableau; tab 1indefs 4, 15 short for table

Origin of tab2

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening

Origin of tab3

From the Latin word tabella

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of tab1

C17: of unknown origin

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. keep tabs / tab on, Informal. to keep an account of; check on; observe:

    The police kept tabs on the suspect's activities.

More idioms and phrases containing tab

see keep tabs on .

Discover More

Example Sentences

The reach reduction will only affect political content appearing in people’s news feeds, though, not other areas within Facebook such as Facebook Watch or its news tab.

From Digiday

If you do not automatically apply Ad Suggestions, you will still get them in your Recommendations tab.

Most cited networking and person-to-person connections at in-person shows, while others pointed out how easy it is to get distracted when an event is another open browser tab in Chrome.

To perform this, go to Page setting and check “Hide this page from search engine results” in the SEO tab.

You can also select the reload button in DevTools under the Performance tab.

That victory for the tab became a bargaining chip in all future dealings with the superstar.

Runaway corporations benefited from those policies but want U.S. companies to pay their share of the tab.

They started the tab; as a country, we have simply, and certainly, continued it.

Place your order and you are given a little tab of paper with the price marked on it.

Critics run that tab as high as $4 billion, calculating the lost tax revenues over 40 years.

He had his key ready in his hand, terra cotta-hued tab swinging loose.

Short hard radiation emitted from the tab neutralized the claws, put them out of commission.

Radiation tabs protected the UN troops, but if a man lost his tab he was fair game for the claws, no matter what his uniform.

In two little hours we came to Antab (An-tab), having crossed the Sejour at a bridge about three quarters of an hour before.

It was a sedan with a neat little drive-yourself tab on the right-hand door.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


taatatabanid