Showing results for "tea"

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Slang dictionary results for tea.

tea

American  

[tee] / ti /

noun

• teas
  plural

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?

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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.

tea British  

/ 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

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tea More Idioms  

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

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Usage

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.)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tealess
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• teas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tea

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

Explanation

The drink that's made by soaking dried leaves in very hot water is called tea. On a hot summer day, many people like to drink iced tea. Use the word tea for the drink you sip in a cup and also for the dried leaves used to make it. Aside from water, tea is the most common beverage in the world, and it's been around since at least the 28th century BCE, when historians believe it was invented in China. In Britain, tea is also a meal, typically eaten in the middle of the afternoon. Before the 18th century, the word tea was pronounced "tay."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tea teas

It was what we did for every birthday, and so it was tea hats and lace.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

During the 10-year study period, the women regularly reported how much coffee and tea they drank.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

Not many are able to read London’s tea leaves better than a local cabbie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The place settings, trays, tea set and other items in my collection aren’t just relics from a different generation, but works of art that, once melted down, can never be reclaimed or replicated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

For an hour we sipped our tea and talked, until the sound of planes died away and the sky was silent.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Her Anima Mundi Herbals is based in Brooklyn, N.Y., where the company manufactures herbal tinctures, elixirs, teas, herbal supplements and other botanicals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

A chef serving up afternoon teas for some of Wimbledon's Centre Court and No.1 Court guests has defended his decision to put Welsh cakes on the menu instead of classic favourite, the scone.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

The research team compared kombuchas made from black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh teas.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

Fast-food chains started testing teas, lemonades, smoothies and specialty coffees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

For a while they met in the back rooms of the abandoned part of the house, where Alba handed out walnuts and served them herbal teas while they meditated in a cross-legged position.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• gossip
• poop