Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tile?

\Tile\, v. t. [See 2d {Tiler}.] To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated; as, to tile a Masonic lodge.
\Tile\, n. [OE. tile, tigel, AS. tigel, tigol, fr. L. tegula, from tegere to cover. See {Thatch}, and cf. {Tegular}.] 1. A plate, or thin piece, of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings, for floors, for drains, and often for ornamental mantel works. 2. (Arch.) (a) A small slab of marble or other material used for flooring. (b) A plate of metal used for roofing. 3. (Metal.) A small, flat piece of dried earth or earthenware, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused. 4. A draintile. 5. A stiff hat. [Colloq.] --Dickens. {Tile drain}, a drain made of tiles. {Tile earth}, a species of strong, clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. [Prov. Eng.] {Tile kiln}, a kiln in which tiles are burnt; a tilery. {Tile ore} (Min.), an earthy variety of cuprite. {Tile red}, light red like the color of tiles or bricks. {Tile tea}, a kind of hard, flat brick tea. See {Brick tea}, under {Brick}.
\Tile\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tiled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tiling}.] 1. To cover with tiles; as, to tile a house. 2. Fig.: To cover, as if with tiles. The muscle, sinew, and vein, Which tile this house, will come again. --Donne.