Etymology 1
First attested 1607, of uncertain origin.
Noun
tab (plural tabs)
- A small flap or strip of material attached to or inserted into something, for holding, manipulation, identification, opening etc.
- Antonym: slot
- Coordinate term: tang
insert tab A into slot B
2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 18:We lifted the tabs on the cans and poured the brew carefully into glasses.
- (slang) An ear.
- (by extension, graphical user interface) A navigational widget, resembling a physical tab, for switching between documents or sets of controls.
- (graphical user interface) The page or form associated with such a navigational widget.
How many tabs are open in your Web browser?
- (British Army, military slang) A fast march or run with full kit.
Translations
small flap or strip of material attached to something
fast march or run with full kit
Etymology 2
Apocopation (shortening) of (variously) tabulate, tabulator, or tabulation.
Noun
tab (plural tabs)
- (informal, chiefly Canada, US) A restaurant bill.
- (informal, chiefly Canada, US) Credit account, e.g., in a shop or bar; slate
Put this round on my tab, please, barman.
- (by extension) The cost or bill for anything.
1984, Time, volume 123, number 1:Moreover, at a tab of $9 million, the system's price is about $1 million less than a conventional heating-cooling plant […]
- (computing) A space character that extends to the next aligned column, traditionally used for tabulation.
- Synonyms: tabulator, \t
2016 May 29, Carson Mell, “Bachmanity Insanity”, in Silicon Valley, season 3, episode 6, spoken by Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch):No no no no I don't, it's not hate, hate is a strong word, truth be told I do have a slight preference for tabs but that's only because I'm anal and because I prefer precision.
Verb
tab (third-person singular simple present tabs, present participle tabbing, simple past and past participle tabbed)
- (computing) 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.
2010, Chris Anderson, Pro Business Applications with Silverlight 4, page 210:You can prevent a control from getting the focus when the user is tabbing between controls by settings its IsTabStop property to False.
Translations
a space character that extends to the next column
Etymology 3
Likely to have been formed by clipping the Geordie pronunciation of the word tobacco or alternatively from the brand name Ogden's Tabs.
References
- Frank Graham, editor (1987), “TAB”, in The New Geordie Dictionary, Rothbury, Northumberland: Butler Publishing, →ISBN.
Etymology 5
Clipping of Cantab, from Cantabrigian, from Latin Cantabrigia (“Cambridge”).
Noun
tab (plural tabs)
- (Oxbridge slang) A student of Cambridge University.
1995 January 20, Paul Thomas, “Re: >Re: Those 'orrible Tabs”, in rec.sport.rowing (Usenet):You should have been there---it was a good race. Just to clarify matters for the hard of understanding, the tabs led for about 1500m before turning to shrapnel, and Oxford eventually won by 3/4 length.
1995 February 7, "Laser Cartridge" [username], “Re: Cambridge News, again.”, in rec.sport.rowing (Usenet):Before Rachel gets in with a stab at the Tabs' coxing efforts, may I say that my experience of coxes on the Isis is somewhat similar.
1998 January 17, whitey [username], “Re: Tab bashing (was University Challenge - Its pish)”, in rec.arts.tv.uk.misc (Usenet):Plus, there's always been a healthy rivalry between the tabs and us, but I'm sure this has nothing to do with it ;-)
2002 March 27, The Guv'nor [username], “Re: My target this week was...”, in uk.rec.bodybuilding (Usenet):I hope the Tabs get beaten! :-) I support Oxford for no real reason but they have a bad habit of losing to Cambridge recently.
2002 March 29, Caroline Smith, “Re: Lifejackets thread returns... [was Re: Boat Race]”, in rec.sport.rowing (Usenet):I have nothing against the girl (other than the fact she's a tab!), but it does strike me as a little daft!!
2006 March 30, JY [username], “Veterans Boat Race (that's Oxford, England vs Cambridge, England)”, in rec.sport.rowing (Usenet):Anybody know who won? ¶ Or should that be, how much did the Tabs win by? ;-)
Etymology 6
Clipping of tabloid.
Noun
tab (plural tabs)
- (colloquial) A tabloid newspaper.
1999, George H. Douglas, The Golden Age of the Newspaper, page 229:By 1926 the tabloid mania was at full tilt, and the tabs in New York went at each other with hammer and tong.
2010, Robert Lusetich, Unplayable: An Inside Account of Tiger's Most Tumultuous Season:That is the attitude of the tabs: they cover the world's most important city.
Etymology 7
Clipping of tablet.
Noun
tab (plural tabs)
- (informal) A tablet, especially one containing illicit drugs.
2008, Stephen King, Graduation Weekend:Tonight the kids will go out and party down in a more righteous mode. Alcohol and not a few tabs of X will be ingested. Club music will throb through big speakers.
Translations
tablet, especially one containing illicit drugs
Anagrams
- ATB, abt., B.T.A., BTA, TBA, bat, bat-, Bat-, ABT, abt, BAT
Etymology 1
Derived from the verb tabe (“to lose”).
Noun
tab n (singular definite tabet, plural indefinite tab)
- loss
- casualty
Declension
More information neuter gender, Singular ...
Close
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Noun
tab b (plural tawni ɦi)
- bow
References
- Bakabima, Koulon Stéphane, Nicole, Jacques (2018) Nawdm-French Dictionary, SIL International
Noun
tab (nominative plural tabs)
- table (item of furniture)
Declension
More information singular, plural ...
Close
declension of tab
- 1 status as a case is disputed
- 2 in later, non-classical Volapük only
Derived terms
Terms derived from "tab"
- blümükamatab
- bötädatab
- dunetatab
- fidatab
- flanatab
- gämatab
- kläpatab
- klünatab
- klünatabil
- lavatab
- layetatab
- letab
- näitab
- penamatab
- pledamatab
- seidön oki leni tab
- stofedön tabi
- tababoed
- tabagefem
- tabaletaned
- tabasal
- tabasog
- tabastofädem
- tabastofed
- tabastömem
- tabategäd
- tabavamükian
- tabavin
- tabel
- tabil
- tabik
- tab laidalotanas
- trümatab
Noun
tab m (plural tabiau or tabs)
- tab (numerous senses)
Mae gen ti ormod o dabiau ar agor.- You've got too many tabs open.
Rho fe ar y tab.- Put it on the tab.
Mutation
More information Welsh mutation, radical ...
Close
References
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “tab”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies