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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

table top

English answer:

small appliance that can sit on a table

Added to glossary by Andra Foca
Jun 19, 2014 13:02
9 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term

table top

English Other Furniture / Household Appliances
Table top dishwasher
table top freezer
table top water dispenser

Could anyone explain what "table top" actually refers to when describing home appliances? Thank you!
Responses
2 +9 small appliance that can sit on a table
5 +2 small
4 +1 intended for use on the top of a table
4 -1 Portable
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Yvonne Gallagher

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Discussion

Andra Foca (asker) Jun 20, 2014:
@all Thanks for all the precious info!
Trudy Peters Jun 19, 2014:
@Claudia Your first reference shows a freezer that HAS a table top, or workspace/counter.
Claudia Coja Jun 19, 2014:
@Tony Makes more sense now:) Thx!
Tony M Jun 19, 2014:
@ Claudia To answer part of your question: 'surface-top' can indeed mean the same thing, though the term is perhaps the least common of all we have seen.

The kind of work surfaces one finds in a kitchen are known as 'worktop' or 'work surface' in the UK, but 'counter (top)' in the US.

However, smaller appliances designed not to be placed on the floor are almost always called 'table-top' — this is an historical relic, as long before the period of fitted kitchens, in the days when things like TVs were in large, heavy, floor-standing cabinets, the alternative was not unnaturally 'table-top'.

These appliances are not necessarily especially light, but contrast with the full-height models that could only stand on the floor. In addition, for certain types of appliance, one may find for example that the controls are repositioned to be more accessible when the appliance is mounted at work-top height.
Claudia Coja Jun 19, 2014:
Got it;) So, after all, it is a freezer that can sit on a table. The term was also discussed in the EN-RO pair, and I had doubts about translating it with the meaning of "placeable on a table" - because there are so many images of "table top freezers" too large to be placed on a table...:)
JaneD Jun 19, 2014:
@Claudia - the first reference is a badly translated site (India), so that means nothing. The second one is a table top unit, it's just a rather larger one than usual.
Claudia Coja Jun 19, 2014:
If table-top means it could sit on a table, how could anyone explain this:
http://www.chillingsystem.com/table-top-freezer.htm
or this
http://www.seg-electronics.de/en/household-appliance/cooling...
And is a "surface top freezer" actually a "table top freezer" ?
Tina Vonhof (X) Jun 19, 2014:
Not to be taken literally 'Table top' should not be taken literally, it can be a counter or any other piece of furniture. The key is that it is smaller and lighter in weight than a regular appliance, it does not sit on the floor, and it is not built in.
Phoenix III Jun 19, 2014:
@ Asker I agree with JaneD because she gave the exact meaning. It means "small" it doesn't have to sit on a table because it can also sit atop a counter or a cabinet or another appliance, etc.

Responses

+9
4 mins
Selected

small appliance that can sit on a table

Specifically designed to save space in small apartments.
Peer comment(s):
agree Parvathi Pappu : agree
3 mins
agree Trudy Peters
4 mins
agree Petro Ebersöhn (X)
6 mins
agree Henk Sanderson
17 mins
agree Mark Nathan : as opposed to one that goes under the worktop
20 mins
agree acetran
2 hrs
agree Jean-Claude Gouin : a table or a counter but not on the floor like the bigger units ...
2 hrs
agree Tony M
3 hrs
agree William [Bill] Gray : ...or on a (sink/kitchen) bench
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
5 mins

small

It just means that they are small-size appliances, suitable for one or two people or for a holiday home.

See pictures of a table top freezer in the link.
Reference:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=table+top+freezer&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=seCiU7SEJq2I7AbU_YCoCg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1920&bih=1105

Peer comment(s):
agree Phoenix III : Not more, not less. Exactly!
57 mins
Thanks!
agree acetran
1 hr
Thanks!
neutral B D Finch : A small fridge fits under a worktop.
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
-1
1 hr

Portable

Another choice because it's not a "built-in" appliance and if it sits then you can take it with you= Portable.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Tina Vonhof (X) : That is taking it too far. I wouldn't want to be going anywhere with a table-top fridge under my arm.
11 mins
Neither do you walk around with a toaster under your arm. It merely means you can take it with you as you please or that you can move it from one "table/counter top" to another or carry it under your arm if you so please.
agree acetran
56 mins
Thanks!
disagree Tony M : No, these are rarely if ever actually 'portable', it just means they can be used on a worktop etc.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
11 mins

intended for use on the top of a table

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tabletop

:))

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2014-06-19 15:31:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

adjective
3.
intended for use on the top of a table or the like.
Peer comment(s):
agree acetran
1 hr
Thanks for your confirmation, acetran! :)) eski
Something went wrong...
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