oolong

American

[oo-lawng, -long] / ˈuˌlɔŋ, -ˌlɒŋ /

noun

a brown or amber tea grown in China and Taiwan and partially fermented before being dried.

oolong British

/ ˈuːˌlɒŋ /

noun

a kind of dark tea, grown in China, that is partly fermented before being dried

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

oolongs

plural

Etymology

Origin of oolong

First recorded in 1850–55, oolong is from the Chinese word wúlóng literally, black dragon, or < a cognate dial. form

Compare meaning

How does oolong compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Vocabulary lists containing oolong

2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Oolong kombucha developed stronger floral and fruity notes.

From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026

Lemon pairs exceptionally well with Earl Grey, Assam or Oolong teas.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2024

Friday produces many types of teas, but Earl Grey tea is in one of her favorite tea recipes she’s developed over the years: an Oolong Earl Grey crème brûlée.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023

Guns are better suited to Yamcha or Oolong.

From The Verge • Aug. 11, 2022

This chest of Oolong tea represents a Japanese cruiser outside the harbor.

From Peck's Bad Boy with the Cowboys by Peck, George W. (George Wilbur)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023