This is the 12420th most frequent Spanish word.
mantel
Tablecloth.
In this sentence, 'mantel' is used to refer to a tablecloth, indicating an item used to cover the surface of a table.
Colocamos un mantel blanco sobre la mesa para la cena.
We placed a white tablecloth on the table for dinner.
Here, 'mantel' emphasizes the decorative aspect and the cultural context (embroidered) of a tablecloth.
El mantel bordado que compré en el mercado es precioso.
The embroidered tablecloth I bought at the market is beautiful.
In this example, 'mantel' is used practically to refer to cleaning the cloth after eating.