Tabulation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌtæbjʊˈleɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The process of arranging information systematically in table form for enhanced clarity and comprehension
2. The procedure of systematically compiling and arranging data in a grid layout enhances clarity and aids in analysis
3. The act of organizing data into rows and columns to facilitate comparison and understanding

Etymology: Tabulation is a fairly plain formation: it is built from the verb "tabulate" with the suffix "-ion," which turns a verb of action into a noun for the act itself. The verb "tabulate" comes from Latin "tabula," meaning a board, tablet or flat plate, so the underlying idea is of setting things out on a flat surface, the way a writing tablet or table holds a list. The suffix has a longer road into English than the verb does. It descends from Latin "-ātiō," which passed through Old French "-ation" and reached Middle English as "-acioun" before settling into the modern "-ation" and "-ion" forms. Along the way the suffix became a general tool for forming nouns of process from verbs, which is why English has so many words of this shape.

Synonyms: listing, cataloging, arrangement

Antonyms: disorder, chaos