gate-leg table: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Furniture/Trade.
Quick answer
What does “gate-leg table” mean?
A table with folding leaves that are supported by leg(s) that swing out like a gate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A table with folding leaves that are supported by leg(s) that swing out like a gate.
A space-saving table design, historically common, where one or more hinged legs unfold to support drop-down leaves, allowing the table to expand for use and contract for storage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties. 'Gate-leg' is standard. In the US, 'gate-legged table' is a common variant. The spelling 'gateleg table' (without hyphen) is also found.
Connotations
Connotes practicality, tradition, and often antique or period furniture. No significant difference in connotation between UK and US.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but standard within furniture, antique, and interior design contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “gate-leg table” in a Sentence
The [material] gate-leg table [verb: stood/folded/occupied] [prepositional phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gate-leg table” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gate-leg mechanism was ingenious.
- They sourced a gate-leg design.
American English
- The gateleg mechanism was ingenious.
- They looked for a gatelegged design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in furniture retail, antique dealing, and interior design project specifications.
Academic
Appears in historical, design, and material culture studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing furniture in a home, especially when describing an antique or a space-saving solution.
Technical
Precise term in cabinetmaking, furniture history, and conservation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gate-leg table”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gate-leg table”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gate-leg table”
- Misspelling as 'gait-leg table' (confusion with 'gait'), 'great-leg table', or omitting the hyphen incorrectly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most correctly written as a hyphenated compound: 'gate-leg'. The unhyphenated 'gateleg' and two-word 'gate leg' are also seen, especially in informal contexts.
All gate-leg tables are drop-leaf tables, but not all drop-leaf tables are gate-leg. 'Gate-leg' specifically describes the mechanism where the supporting leg swings out from the central frame, resembling a gate.
Yes, though they are more common in reproductions of historical styles or in designs prioritizing space efficiency over contemporary aesthetics.
Yes, e.g., 'gate-leg mechanism', 'gate-leg design'. The adjectival form 'gatelegged' is also used, particularly in American English.
A table with folding leaves that are supported by leg(s) that swing out like a gate.
Gate-leg table is usually formal, furniture/trade. in register.
Gate-leg table: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡeɪt lɛɡ ˌteɪb(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡeɪt lɛɡ ˌteɪb(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a garden GATE swinging open to let a LEG through to support a TABLE leaf.
Conceptual Metaphor
FURNITURE IS A TRANSFORMABLE SPACE (it changes form to accommodate function).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a gate-leg table?