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.

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 called: afternoon 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 called: high tea. afternoon tea that also includes a light cooked dish

5. the main evening meal

6. old-fashioned,  marijuana

7. informal,  a caring attitude, esp to someone in trouble

Other Word Forms

• tealess adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tea¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; 1940–45 tea for def. 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. spill the tea, 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.

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

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

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

Example Sentences

"He threw a tea towel over my head and then bit me on the nose," she said.

From BBC

She lost more than 40% of her original body weight and was twice admitted to hospital in London during the strike, which saw her consume only tea, coffee and rehydration salts.

From BBC

"Every morning he would go down and make the tea, he would play. Oh, What a Beautiful Morning from the musical Oklahoma," she says.

From BBC

She and her husband have two other children, and dry pieces of bread with Afghan green tea are the only meals the family can afford.

From BBC

Isn’t this a “First World problem,” a form of privileged whining or a self-indulgent bid for tea and sympathy?

From Salon

Related Words

• gossip 
• poop 

When To Use

What does tea mean in slang?

There are, of course, many types of tea: green tea, bubble (boba) tea, the redundantly named chai tea, the tea tree and its oil, the Boston Tea Party, the teacup poodle, the Long Island iced tea, to name just a few.But in slang, tea means "gossip," a juicy scoop, or other personal information. (It’s best served piping hot.)