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Synonyms

teacup

American  
[tee-kuhp] / ˈtiˌkʌp /

noun

  1. a cup in which tea is served, usually of small or moderate size.

  2. a teacupful.

idioms

  1. tempest in a teacup / teapot, a disturbance or uproar about little or nothing: Also storm in a teacup.

    The fight over who should become the next assistant treasurer of the organization is just a tempest in a teacup.
teacup British  
/ ˈtiːˌkʌp /

noun

  1. a cup out of which tea may be drunk, larger than a coffee cup

  2. Also called: teacupful.  the amount a teacup will hold, about four fluid ounces

"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

Etymology

Origin of teacup

First recorded in 1690–1700; tea + cup

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.

“When people say, ‘Oh, it’s a teacup pig,’ I’m like, ‘That is not a thing. That does not exist,’” said Lynsey Rosen, a veterinarian in Southern California who treats dozens of mini pigs each month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

This time, the humans aren’t hunted by one xenomorph but two, including a teacup version, along with a hyper-intelligent eyeball monster and a killer plant.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2025

While The Brutalist's use of AI and Anora's lack of an intimacy co-ordinator were storms in a teacup, there was one genuine controversy when some historic tweets nearly brought down Emilia Pérez.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2025

They walked through the remains Wednesday and took solace in what they could find among the wreckage — a cowbell, a Franciscan Apple china teacup and a Virgin Mary statue.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2025

Gingersnipes offered an oblivious smile, lifting her teacup.

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

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.