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

That includes where to place the tee boxes, how fast to make the greens and whether to make the rough long or short.

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Nakamura wasn’t there to tee off on inferior opponents—or for a few thousand bucks in prize money.

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That means that on Day 2, you are hitting the ball from a different tee box in a different direction to a different green.

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That included training with virtual reality headsets that simulated what it would be like walking out onto the first tee box, which players say is the most nerve-racking test in the sport.

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And before the Americans ever teed off, strategic miscues placed them at a crushing disadvantage.

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