Definition of tablet

The word "tablet" has its roots in ancient Greece and Latin. In Greek, the word "ταβλέττα" (tablétta) referred to a small, flat piece of wood or metal used as a writing surface. This term was later borrowed into Latin as "tabula," which also meant a writing tablet or slate. A tablet was typically a flat, rectangular piece of wood, bone, or stone covered with a layer of wax. Writers would use a stylus to inscribe marks on the wax, which could then be erased by wiping the surface clean. The use of writing tablets dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The modern concept of a tablet, which is an electronic device with a touchscreen interface, is a relatively recent innovation. The term "tablet PC" was first used in the 1990s to describe a laptop computer that could be used in a tablet-like format. Today, the term "tablet" refers to a wide range of devices, from basic e-readers to powerful computing devices like the iPad.