tile

noun

1. 1. a thin, usually rectangular piece of stone, concrete, or unglazed, fired clay, used for roofing, flooring, etc.
   2. a thin, usually rectangular piece of glazed, fired clay, often decorated, used for fireplace borders, bathroom walls, etc.
   3. a similar piece of other material, as of metal, plastic, asphalt, rubber, etc., used to cover floors, walls, etc.
2. tiles collectively; tiling
3. a drain of semicircular tiles or earthenware pipe
4. hollow blocks of burnt clay, used variously in construction
5. any of the pieces used in mah-jongg or some other games
6. Informal a high, stiff hat

Origin: ME < OE tigele, akin to Ger ziegel, both < WGmc *tegala < L tegula, tile < tegere, to cover: see thatch

transitive verb tiled, tiling