tea

[ tee ]

noun

1. the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in hot water.
2. the shrub itself, extensively cultivated in China, Japan, India, etc., and having fragrant white flowers. Compare tea family.
3. the beverage so prepared, served hot or iced.
4. any kind of leaves, flowers, etc., so used, or any plant yielding them.
5. any of various infusions prepared from the leaves, flowers, etc., of other plants, and used as beverages or medicines.
6. beef bouillon.
7. British. any meal, whether a light snack or one consisting of several courses, eaten in the late afternoon or in the evening; any meal other than dinner, eaten after the middle of the afternoon.
8. an afternoon reception at which tea is served.
9. Slang. marijuana.
10. Slang. interesting or confidential information; gossip; news:

    I hear you were talking to Sandy yesterday—what’s the tea?

tea

/ tiː /

noun

1. an evergreen shrub or small tree, Camellia sinensis, of tropical and subtropical Asia, having toothed leathery leaves and white fragrant flowers: family Theaceae
2. 1. the dried shredded leaves of this shrub, used to make a beverage by infusion in boiling water
   2. such a beverage, served hot or iced
   3. ( as modifier )

      tea caddy

      tea urn

3. 1. any of various plants that are similar to Camellia sinensis or are used to make a tealike beverage
   2. any such beverage
4. 1. Also calledafternoon tea a light meal eaten in mid-afternoon, usually consisting of tea and cakes, biscuits, or sandwiches
   2. ( as modifier )

      a tea party

   3. Also calledhigh tea afternoon tea that also includes a light cooked dish
5. the main evening meal
6. old-fashioned.
   marijuana
7. tea and sympathy informal.
   a caring attitude, esp to someone in trouble

Other Words From

• tea·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tea¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; 1940–45 tea fordef 9; from dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) t'e, akin to Chinese chá

Word History and Origins

Origin of tea¹

C17: from Chinese (Amoy) t'e, from Ancient Chinese d`a

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. one's cup of tea, something suitable, appropriate, or attractive to one:

   Horror movies and westerns are just not my cup of tea.

2. spill the tea, Slang. to reveal interesting or confidential information; share gossip:

   In this exclusive clip, the famous actor spills the tea on who gets offered the best roles first.

More idioms and phrases containing tea

see cup of tea ; not for all the tea in china ; tempest in a teapot .

Example Sentences

For about three hours, Dwight Yoakam sat at a conference table with a glass of iced tea and two smartphones in front of him, his mind abuzz with details.

From Los Angeles Times

Jurado swirled around a Rooibos tea bag with a tag read, “Your Actions Prove Your Greatness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Judges have struggled even to define how copyright infringement principles apply to technology that doesn’t output exact copies of copyrighted works but “mimics” them — rather like how the beverage machine in Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” delivered “a cupful of liquid that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.”

From Los Angeles Times

He has a similar aw-shucks, genial manner — easy to laugh and quick to offer a cup of tea — that belies the strange hive of imagery buzzing inside his head.

From Los Angeles Times

And I really ought to extol the graciously ironic handling of “Chrysanthemum Tea,” one of those oh-so-clever Sondheim numbers that spans enormous dramatic territory in a manner so catchy that the song seems to gallop.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gossip
• poop