tea

[ tee ]

/ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tea ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in hot water.

the shrub itself, extensively cultivated in China, Japan, India, etc., and having fragrant white flowers.Compare tea family.

the beverage so prepared, served hot or iced.

any kind of leaves, flowers, etc., so used, or any plant yielding them.

any of various infusions prepared from the leaves, flowers, etc., of other plants, and used as beverages or medicines.

beef bouillon.

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.

an afternoon reception at which tea is served.

Slang. marijuana.

RELATED WORDS

drink, brew, refreshment, pekoe

Nearby words

Idioms

one's cup of tea, something suitable, appropriate, or attractive to one: Horror movies and westerns are just not my cup of tea.

Origin of tea

1590–1600; 1940–45 for def 9; < dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) t'e, akin to Chinese chá

Related formstea·less, adjective

Can be confusedtea tee

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tea

Senseless bureaucracy is part of what spawned the Tea Party.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So it was ironic a couple of months later when the Tea Partiers were railing against it—it had already expired.
To GOP Congress, as Usual, It’s Welfare on the Chopping Block|Monica Potts|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some imagine Senator Elizabeth Warren as the charismatic leader of a progressive version of the “tea party.”
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the hospital, I was told to wait, and was given some tea by a nurse.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Finally, he says, “Would you like a cup of tea or something?”
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The apology for tea was brought, and both accepted it, talking of trivialities.
Scarlet and Hyssop|E. F. Benson
When we went to tea or dinner with these people Jimmie and I had to be dragged along like dogs who are muzzled for the first time.
Abroad with the Jimmies|Lilian Bell
Mrs. Peterkin frugally suggested that they might now keep it for the next day, as to-day was almost gone, and they had had tea.
The Peterkin Papers|Lucretia P. Hale
Hyson tea and Souchong mixed together, half and half, is a pleasant beverage, and is more healthy than green tea alone.
Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million|Sarah Josepha Hale
He poured out his tea and sat down in a chair opposite to her, and close to her.
The Woman With The Fan|Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for tea

tea

/ (tiː) /

noun

an evergreen shrub or small tree, Camellia sinensis, of tropical and subtropical Asia, having toothed leathery leaves and white fragrant flowers: family Theaceae

the dried shredded leaves of this shrub, used to make a beverage by infusion in boiling water
such a beverage, served hot or iced
(as modifier)tea caddy; tea urn

any of various plants that are similar to Camellia sinensis or are used to make a tealike beverage
any such beverage

mainly British

Also called: afternoon tea a light meal eaten in mid-afternoon, usually consisting of tea and cakes, biscuits, or sandwiches
(as modifier)a tea party
Also called: high tea afternoon tea that also includes a light cooked dish

British, Australian and NZ the main evening meal

US and Canadian old-fashioned, slang marijuana

tea and sympathy informal a caring attitude, esp to someone in trouble

Word Origin for tea

C17: from Chinese (Amoy) t'e, from Ancient Chinese d`a

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

Word Origin and History for tea

tea

1650s, earlier chaa (1590s, from Portuguese cha), from Malay teh and directly from Chinese (Amoy dialect) t'e, in Mandarin ch'a. First known in Paris 1635, the practice of drinking tea was first introduced to England 1644.

The distribution of the different forms of the word reflects the spread of use of the beverage. The modern English form, along with French thé, Spanish te, German Tee, etc., derive via Dutch thee from the Amoy form, reflecting the role of the Dutch as the chief importers of the leaves (through the Dutch East India Company, from 1610). The Portuguese word (attested from 1550s) came via Macao; and Russian chai, Persian cha, Greek tsai, Arabic shay, and Turkish çay all came overland from the Mandarin form.

Meaning "afternoon meal at which tea is served" is from 1738. Slang meaning "marijuana" (which sometimes was brewed in hot water) is attested from 1935, felt as obsolete by late 1960s. Tea ball is from 1895.

Idioms and Phrases with tea

tea

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

tea

noun

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of tea

Examples from the Web for tea

British Dictionary definitions for tea

tea

noun

Word Origin for tea

Word Origin and History for tea

tea

Idioms and Phrases with tea

tea