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tab

Pronunciation: /tæb/

The English word “tab” has 17 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A small flap or strip of material attached to or inserted into something, for holding, manipulation, identification, opening etc.
  2. An ear.
  3. A navigational widget, resembling a physical tab, for switching between documents or sets of controls.
  4. The page or form (for example, on a web browser or file manager) associated with such a navigational widget.
  5. A fast march or run with full kit.
  6. A restaurant bill.
  7. Credit account, e.g., in a shop or bar; slate.
  8. The cost or bill for anything.
  9. A space character that extends to the next aligned column, traditionally used for tabulation.
  10. A cigarette.
  11. A form of musical notation indicating fingering rather than the pitch of notes, commonly used for stringed instruments.
  12. A student of Cambridge University.
  13. A tabloid newspaper.
  14. A tablet, especially one containing illicit drugs.
  15. A tableau curtain.

verb

  1. To affix with tabs; to label.
  2. To use the Tab key on a computer to advance the cursor or move the input focus, or on a typewriter to advance the carriage.

Etymology

First attested 1607, of uncertain origin.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.