\starttext

natural tables add a span

\blank

\bTABLE
    \bTR
        \bTD first  \eTD
        \bTD second \eTD
        \bTD third  \eTD
    \eTR
    \bTR
        \bTD last   \eTD
    \eTR
\eTABLE

\blank


\bTABLE
    \bTR
        \bTD first  \eTD
        \bTD second \eTD
        \bTD third  \eTD
    \eTR
    \bTR
        \bTD last   \eTD
        \bTD last   \eTD
        \bTD last   \eTD
    \eTR
\eTABLE

\blank[3*big]

extreme table add cells

\blank

\startxtable
    \startxrow
        \startxcell first  \stopxcell
        \startxcell second \stopxcell
        \startxcell third  \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
    \startxrow
        \startxcell last   \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
\stopxtable

\blank

\startxtable
    \startxrow
        \startxcell first  \stopxcell
        \startxcell second \stopxcell
        \startxcell third  \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
    \startxrow
        \startxcell last   \stopxcell
        \startxcell last   \stopxcell
        \startxcell last   \stopxcell
    \stopxrow
\stopxtable

\stoptext
