Tavole

Tavole is the plural of tavola in Italian and may refer to several senses depending on context.

In everyday language, tavola usually means a table, or a flat surface used for dining or work. The plural tavole can denote dining tables or tabletop surfaces. The expression andare a tavola means to sit down to eat, while una tavola apparecchiata describes a set table ready for a meal. The terms tavola calda and tavola fredda indicate places offering ready meals, and tavolata describes a long gathering around a large table.

In carpentry and construction, tavole denote boards or planks of wood used for building or crafts, for example tagliare su tavole di legno.

In publishing and illustration, tavole can mean plates or inserted illustrations in a book, especially in historical or scientific works. A book may include tavole anatomiche, tavole descriptive, or tavole geografiche, referring to plates or charts.

Historically, the expression Tavole della Legge refers to the Tablets of the Law (the Ten Commandments) in religious contexts.

Etymology: tavola derives from Latin tabula, meaning a board or a flat surface; tavole is the plural form in Italian, and cognates appear in other Romance languages with related meanings for table, board, and tablet.