Tile, n. [OE. tile, tigel, AS. tigel, tigol, fr. L. tegula, from tegere to cover. See Thatch, and cf. Tegular.] 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. (Arch.) (a) A small slab of marble or other material used for flooring. (b) A plate of metal used for roofing.
3. (Metal.) A small, flat piece of dried earth or earthenware, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused.
4. A draintile.
5. A stiff hat. Dickens.
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(Min.), 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.