tiling
/ˈtaɪlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtaɪlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtī-liŋ/ (ame, mw) · /taɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /taɪl/ (ame, ipa)
tiling — noun
1. a floor, wall, or other flat surface that has been covered with tiles, especiall
a floor, wall, or other flat surface that has been covered with tiles, especially as part of a building's design or decoration.
Nila admired the beautiful tiling in the old temple's courtyard.
The bathroom tiling needs to be replaced after the leak.
collocation: bathroom tiling / kitchen tiling
We chose a hexagonal tiling for the entrance hall.
Caleb noticed that the kitchen tiling had a small crack near the sink.
- tiled surface
more explicit but less common; 'tiling' is the usual term
- tiles
refers to the individual pieces, not the assembled surface; 'tiles' vs 'tiling' is the key distinction
文法句型
uncountable noun for finished surface
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when describing an installed tiled surface as a whole. When countable ('a tiling'), it is rare and typically technical in tone.
常見錯誤
2. the job, skill, or process of fixing tiles onto floors, walls, or other surfaces
the job, skill, or process of fixing tiles onto floors, walls, or other surfaces.
Aaron does tiling for a living and has worked on over fifty houses.
uncountable: the profession/activity of tiling
The tiling of the new hospital wing took the team six months.
Rafael decided to take a course in tiling to start his own business.
Learning proper tiling requires patience and a steady hand.
- tile installation
more formal term for the process
- tile work
slightly more general; can also refer to the finished result
文法句型
uncountable: the activity or trade
用法筆記
Uncountable. Does not take an article. Common in phrases such as 'do tiling', 'a course in tiling', and 'tiling work'. Distinguish from sense 1: 'The tiling is cracked' (sense 1, surface) vs 'Tiling is hard work' (sense 2, activity).
常見錯誤
3. ceramic, stone, or other flat pieces manufactured in quantity for use as a cover
ceramic, stone, or other flat pieces manufactured in quantity for use as a covering or decorative material on surfaces such as floors, walls, and roofs.
The shop sells a wide range of tiling for bathrooms and kitchens.
collective/material sense — uncountable
Moroccan-style tiling has become popular for modern homes.
Hana chose terracotta tiling for the patio floor.
The warehouse stocked pallets of Mexican tiling waiting to be shipped to hardware stores.
- tiles
countable plural for individual pieces; less general than the collective 'tiling'
- ceramic tile
narrower; specifies one type of tiling material
文法句型
uncountable: tiles as a material or commodity
用法筆記
Uncountable and collective. Refers to tiles as a material class or product category, not an installed surface (sense 1) or an activity (sense 2). To refer to individual pieces, use 'tile' (countable noun): 'I bought a box of tiles.'
常見錯誤
tiling — verb
- tilingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tilings3rd person singular
- tilinging-ing form
- tilingedpast simple
1. to fix tiles onto a flat surface such as a floor, wall, or roof, arranging them
to fix tiles onto a flat surface such as a floor, wall, or roof, arranging them in a regular pattern.
Hassan spent the weekend tiling his new shower.
transitive: tile + [surface being covered]
The workers tiled the entire restaurant floor in one day.
Lauren learned how to tile a wall from her uncle.
The kitchen floor was tiled by a local craftsman last spring.
- cover with tiles
more descriptive; 'tile' is shorter and more natural
文法句型
tile + object (surface being covered)
用法筆記
The grammatical object is always the surface ('tile the floor', 'tile a wall'), NOT the tiles themselves. Frequently used in the passive ('was tiled'). The present participle ('tiling') can also serve as a noun (sense 2 of the noun entry).