tee

1
[ tee ]

noun
  1. the letter T or t.

  2. something shaped like a T, as a three-way joint used in fitting pipes together.

  1. the mark aimed at in various games, as curling.

adjective
  1. having a crosspiece at the top; shaped like a T.

Idioms about tee

  1. to a tee. T1 (def. 6).

Origin of tee

1
First recorded in 1600–10

Words that may be confused with tee

Other definitions for tee (2 of 3)

tee2
[ tee ]

noun
  1. Golf.

    • Also called teeing ground . the starting place, usually a hard mound of earth, at the beginning of play for each hole.

    • a small wooden, plastic, metal, or rubber peg from which the ball is driven, as in teeing off.

  2. Football. a device on which the ball may be placed to raise it off the ground preparatory to kicking.

verb (used with object),teed, tee·ing.
  1. Golf. to place (the ball) on a tee.

Verb Phrases
  1. tee off,

    • Golf. to strike the ball from a tee.

    • Slang. to reprimand severely; scold: He teed off on his son for wrecking the car.

    • Informal. to begin: They teed off the program with a medley of songs.

    • Baseball, Softball. to make many runs and hits, especially extra-base hits: teeing off for six runs on eight hits, including three doubles and a home run.

    • Baseball, Softball. to hit (a pitched ball) hard and far: He teed off on a fastball and drove it into the bleachers.

    • Boxing. to strike with a powerful blow, especially to the head: He teed off on his opponent with an overhand right.

    • Slang. to make angry, irritated, or disgusted: She was teed off because her dinner guests were late.

Origin of tee

2
First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Other definitions for TEE (3 of 3)

TEE

abbreviation
  1. Trans-Europe Express.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tee in a sentence

  • How you and me have sat on the primrose bed and watched the t-e-e-nty buds swell and swell till finally—pop!

    Old Caravan Days | Mary Hartwell Catherwood

British Dictionary definitions for tee (1 of 3)

tee1

/ (tiː) /


noun
  1. a pipe fitting in the form of a letter T, used to join three pipes

  2. a metal section with a cross section in the form of a letter T, such as a rolled-steel joist

  1. any part or component shaped like a T

British Dictionary definitions for tee (2 of 3)

tee2

/ (tiː) golf /


noun
  1. Also called: teeing ground an area, often slightly elevated, from which the first stroke of a hole is made

  2. a support for a golf ball, usually a small wooden or plastic peg, used when teeing off or in long grass, etc

verbtees, teeing or teed
  1. (when intr, often foll by up) to position (the ball) ready for striking, on or as if on a tee

Origin of tee

2
C17 teaz, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for tee (3 of 3)

tee3

/ (tiː) /


noun
  1. a mark used as a target in certain games such as curling and quoits

Origin of tee

3
C18: perhaps from T-shaped marks, which may have originally been used in curling

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012