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

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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

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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

Black tea is typically allowed to undergo extensive oxidation, a chemical process that changes the composition of compounds in the leaves, while green tea is processed to limit oxidation.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

It also did not identify a specific temperature at which tea becomes harmful.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Although regular tea consumption was generally associated with a reduced risk of vascular disease, drinking tea described as "burning hot" was linked to an increased risk.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

However, the study does not establish whether these compounds explain the observed differences between black and green tea.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

He handed me one and I sat up and poured tea from my thermos into my cup and his and we drank the tea and dunked the cookies and did not talk but just sat.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

"Our research group has discovered novel bioactive lipids in Japanese dietary fish, herbal teas, and seaweeds," Gowda adds, "helping to shed light on Japan's underexplored lipid-rich food resources."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

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

Jimenez, the mother of twin girls, says she makes herself feel better by drinking herbal teas and taking herbal liquid supplements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Before that she'd been selling her baked goods at markets, having launched a business during the Covid pandemic delivering afternoon teas and birthday cakes.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

Not that Tea Haven ever got such fine teas.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

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Related Words

• gossip
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