tab
B1Informal, everyday for most senses. Also technical in computing.
Definition
Meaning
A small, often projecting flap or tag used for opening, holding, or identifying something.
1. A bill or check for money owed, especially in a bar or restaurant. 2. A key on a computer keyboard used to move the cursor a set number of spaces. 3. A small, often decorative, marker in a file or notebook to divide sections. 4. To keep an account of something, as in "keep a tab on."
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The 'bill' sense is informal but extremely common. The 'flap' sense is highly concrete and frequent. The 'monitor' sense (keep tabs on) is idiomatic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'bill' meaning ('Can I put this on my tab?') is used in both, but is perhaps slightly more common in American English pubs/hotels. No significant spelling or pronunciation differences.
Connotations
In both, 'pick up the tab' means to pay the bill, with connotations of generosity or responsibility.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties; 'tab' (computing) is universal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keep tabs on [someone/something]put [something] on (a) tabpick up the tab (for [something])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “keep tabs on someone/something (to monitor)”
- “pick up the tab (to pay the bill)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'The company will pick up the tab for the conference dinner.'
Academic
Rare, except in computing contexts or as a physical descriptor ('Use the tab to separate columns').
Everyday
Very common: 'Pull the tab to open the can.', 'Can I start a tab?'
Technical
Computing: 'Press Tab to indent the line.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He carefully tabbed the important pages in the manual.
- The barman asked if I wanted to tab my drinks.
American English
- She tabbed through the online form fields quickly.
- We can tab your dinner to the room.
adverb
British English
- This function is not used adverbially in standard British English.
American English
- This function is not used adverbially in standard American English.
adjective
British English
- He suffered a tab-ended finger from the can. (rare/idiomatic)
- The tab key is stuck.
American English
- Use the tab character for formatting.
- She ordered a tab soda. (a brand, not an adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Pull the tab to open the drink.
- This is my tab for my cola.
- Can I open a tab and pay at the end of the night?
- Press the 'Tab' key on your keyboard.
- The manager keeps close tabs on all project expenditures.
- I've organised the binder with colour-coded tabs.
- The investigative journalist kept meticulous tabs on the corporation's overseas dealings.
- The software allows you to navigate between fields using the tab key.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TAB on a soda can: you pull it to Access the Beverage. A restaurant TAB is what you owe After the Bill.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION IS A RESOURCE ("keeping tabs" = spending attention), CONTROL IS HOLDING ("keep tabs on" = maintain a grip on information).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "таблетка" (tablet) or "таблица" (table/chart).
- "Tab" (bill) is not "счёт" in a formal banking sense, but specifically a bar/restaurant bill awaiting payment.
- "Keep tabs on" translates to "следить за", not a direct word-for-word translation involving 'tab'.
Common Mistakes
- Using "tab" to mean a formal invoice in a corporate context (too informal).
- Confusing "keep tabs on" with "keep track of" (similar, but "tabs" implies closer, more vigilant monitoring).
- Incorrectly capitalising "tab" when referring to the keyboard key.
Practice
Quiz
In the context of computing, what is the primary function of the 'Tab' key?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for the 'bill' sense, it is likely short for 'tabulation' or 'tablet' (an old term for a written account). The physical 'flap' sense's origin is less clear but may be related to 'tag'.
A 'tab' is specifically a running account of what you owe, settled later (common in bars). A 'bill' is the final statement requesting immediate payment, though the terms are often used interchangeably informally.
Yes, informally: 'The bartender tabbed our drinks.' More commonly in computing: 'Tab to the next field.'
It is informal. In formal writing, use 'monitor', 'oversee', or 'keep track of' instead.
Explore