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.

3. T-bar.

4. T-shirt.

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

adjective

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

tee

²

[tee]

noun

1. Golf.

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

   2. 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, teeing 

1. Golf.,  to place (the ball) on a tee.

verb phrase

1. tee off

   1. Golf.,  to strike the ball from a tee.

   2. Slang.,  to reprimand severely; scold.

      He teed off on his son for wrecking the car.

   3. Informal.,  to begin.

      They teed off the program with a medley of songs.

   4. 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.

   5. Baseball, Softball.,  to hit (a pitched ball) hard and far.

      He teed off on a fastball and drove it into the bleachers.

   6. Boxing.,  to strike with a powerful blow, especially to the head.

      He teed off on his opponent with an overhand right.

   7. Slang.,  to make angry, irritated, or disgusted.

      She was teed off because her dinner guests were late.

TEE

³

Or T-E-E

abbreviation

1. Trans-Europe Express.

tee

¹

/ 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

3. any part or component shaped like a T

tee

²

/ tiː /

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

verb

1. to position (the ball) ready for striking, on or as if on a tee

tee

³

/ tiː /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tee¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Origin of tee²

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of tee¹

C17 teaz, of unknown origin

Origin of tee²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to a tee. T.

Example Sentences

There was still time for the substitute to add a third after Gordon teed him up.

Read more on BBC

Swedish golfer Simon Forsstrom, pausing on the 14th tee to admire a red sandstone tomb behind him -- a miniature echo of the Taj Mahal -- was equally impressed.

Read more on Barron's

But they were unable to put a further dent in Saints' lead, with Fin Smith teeing up Freeman just before the break to re-establish breathing space at 21-12.

Read more on BBC

Sellers shuffle out sweatshirts and tees at a blistering pace before raising yellow survey flags into the air to call upon the next guest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The product line includes tee shirts, jerseys and hoodies ranging from $30-$110 per item.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal