Definition of "tile" in English

noun

1. A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile, etc.

2. (computing) A rectangular graphic.

   • Each tile within the map consists of 256 × 256 pixels.
   • Sprites and tiles that are hidden in the prototype ROM file can be recovered.

3. Any of various flat cuboid playing pieces used in certain games, such as dominoes, Scrabble, or mahjong.

4. (dated, informal) A stiff hat.

   • 1911, Charles Collins, Fred E. Terry and E.A. Sheppard, "Any Old Iron", British Music Hall song Dressed in style, brand-new tile, And your father's old green tie on.

5. (Lego building) A Lego piece that is 1/3 the height of a brick, and is smooth without studs on top.

verb

1. (transitive) To cover with tiles.

   • The handyman tiled the kitchen.
   • White marble tiled the bathroom.

2. (graphical user interface) To arrange in a regular pattern, with adjoining edges (applied to tile-like objects, graphics, windows in a computer interface).

3. (computing theory) To optimize (a loop in program code) by means of the tiling technique.

4. (Freemasonry) To seal a lodge against intrusions from unauthorised people.

verb

1. To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated.

   • to tile a Masonic lodge
   • tile the door