tea

American  

[tee] / ti /

noun

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

• tealess adjective

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

Example Sentences

The sold-out gathering at the Strand was one of six tea parties being thrown throughout the country by the publisher to commemorate Austen’s semiquincentennial.

From Los Angeles Times

The daughter of a tea trader, she moved to what is now Bangladesh with her family after the partition of India.

From BBC

Meditation, reading a book or sipping herbal tea “are a lot less expensive and probably equally effective.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Over glasses of tea and helpings of baklava, I ask if he and his family would move back.

From BBC

Six Senses Laamu handmakes dozens of ice cream flavors daily at its dedicated Ice & Chocolate Studio, including Earl Grey tea, burnt milk, and mascarpone, free for guests every afternoon.

From Salon

Related Words

• gossip
• poop