Entry 8 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913 Tile /tīl/ · IPA /ˈtaɪ.əl/ v. t. n. v. t. 01 v. t. To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated; as, to tile a Masonic lodge. 1. To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated; as, to tile a Masonic lodge. 02 n. A plate, or thin piece, of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings, for floors, for drains, and often for ornamental mantel works. 1. A plate, or thin piece, of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings, for floors, for drains, and often for ornamental mantel works. 2. A small slab of marble or other material used for flooring.(Arch.) 3. A small, flat piece of dried earth or earthenware, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused.(Metal.) 4. A draintile. 5. A stiff hat.[Colloq.] Phrases & compounds Tile drain — a drain made of tiles. Tile earth — a species of strong, clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. Tile kiln — a kiln in which tiles are burnt; a tilery. Tile ore — an earthy variety of cuprite. Tile red — light red like the color of tiles or bricks. Tile tea — a kind of hard, flat brick tea. See Brick tea, under Brick. 03 v. t. To cover with tiles; as, to tile a house. imp. & p. p. Tiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tiling 1. To cover with tiles; as, to tile a house. 2. Fig.: To cover, as if with tiles. “The muscle, sinew, and vein, Which tile this house, will come again.” — Donne.