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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’s particularly important for retirement savers to read the tea leaves on CD rates because so many people have cash buckets set up to fund their living expenses.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

It is best known for its unusually low melting point, which allows a gallium spoon to melt in a cup of hot tea.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026

Dressed in dark trousers and a denim jacket, he discussed his life and music on the beach walk and over tea on the patio at the Viceroy hotel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

And in my own research with Stella Rouse and Kristen Essel, we found that tea party-affiliated state legislators were more ideologically conservative in their voting records.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

The otter who’d drunk thirteen cups of tea and chattered with Clare by the hearth all night.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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

Ideal for summer, this light and feathery style of bread can be used as buns for barbecues, for sandwiches in a picnic and in those lazy summer picky teas.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

However, the study also identifies potential health concerns, particularly with bottled and bubble teas, which may contain harmful additives like artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

The shop sells soft-serve ice cream, bubble teas, and shakes.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

Incense was burning all around the botanica and the shelves were crowded with teas and potions and smaller saints.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

Related Words

• gossip
• poop