1. An engraved tablet or surface.
2. Music. A system of notation using letters, symbols, or other visual cues instead of standard notation to indicate how a musical piece is to be played. For example, guitar or banjo tablature typically consists of a diagram of the strings with finger positions indicated by numerals corresponding to the appropriate frets.

[French, alteration (influenced by Latin tabula, table) of Italian intavolatura, from intavolare, to put on a board : Latin in-, in- + tavola, table, board (from Latin tabula).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.