tab
noun /tæb/
/tæb/
Idioms - a small piece of paper, cloth, metal, etc. that sticks out from the edge of something, and that is used to give information about it, or to hold it, fasten it, etc.
- Insert tab A into slot 1 (= for example to make a model, box, etc.).
- (also tab stop)a fixed position in a line of a document that you are typing that shows where a piece of text or a column of figures, etc. will begin
- Use the tab key to insert a tab at the beginning of the line.
- (also pull tab (both North American English), British English ring pull)a small piece of metal with a ring attached which is pulled to open cans of food, drink, etc.
- a bill for goods you receive but pay for later, especially for food or drinks in a restaurant or bar; the price or cost of something
- a bar tab
- Can I put it on my tab?
- The tab for the meeting could be $3 000.
- Who is going to pick up the tab (= pay) for the legal expenses?
- He walked out of the restaurant and left me to pick up the tab for the whole meal.
- (informal) a small solid piece of an illegal drug
- a tab of Ecstasy
- (also tablature)[uncountable, countable] a way of representing musical notes on paper by showing the position of the fingers on a musical instrument rather than the actual notes; an example of this
- guitar tabs
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 4 late Middle English: perhaps related to the verb tag. noun sense 5 1960s: abbreviation.
Idioms
keep (close) tabs on somebody/something
- (informal) to watch somebody/something carefully in order to know what is happening so that you can control a particular situation
- It's not always possible to keep tabs on everyone's movements.
pick up the bill, tab, etc. (for something)
- (informal) to pay for something
- The company picked up the tab for his hotel room.
- The government will continue to pick up college fees for some students.