Definition
A raised flat surface with legs, used for eating, working, or placing objects on.
Example
Ponemos los platos sobre la mesa antes de cenar.
Show translation
We put the plates on the table before dinner.
Etymology
From Latin *mensa* ("table, meal"), itself of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to *metiri* ("to measure"). The Latin word also carried the meaning of a meal or course of food, which survives in Spanish expressions like *poner la mesa* (to set the table).
Cultural note
In Spanish-speaking cultures, *la mesa* is more than furniture — it is the social heart of the home. Family meals are typically unhurried, and *sentarse a la mesa* (sitting down at the table) implies togetherness. The phrase *hablar de algo sobre la mesa* means to discuss something openly, similar to English "put it on the table."