teak

American  

[teek] / tik /

noun

teaks plural

1. a large East Indian tree, Tectona grandis, of the verbena family, yielding a hard, durable, resinous, yellowish-brown wood used for shipbuilding, making furniture, etc.

2. the wood of this tree.

3. any of various similar trees or woods.

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teak British  

/ tiːk /

noun

1. a large verbenaceous tree, Tectona grandis, of the East Indies, having white flowers and yielding a valuable dense wood

2. the hard resinous yellowish-brown wood of this tree, used for furniture making, etc

3. any of various similar trees or their wood

4. a brown or yellowish-brown colour

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• teaks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of teak

1665–75; earlier teke < Portuguese teca < Malayalam tēkka

Example Sentences

Other impressive features found in the space included original teak plank flooring, an original marble staircase, and original picture moldings and wainscoting.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

The exhibition also spotlighted India's diverse range of high-quality hardwoods such as teak, rosewood and ebony, and the country's deeply-rooted traditions of intricate handcrafting by local artisans.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

They range from thermally-modified woods, to fully synthetic materials, to engineered teak laminates – and while options have been around for years, recent innovations, say the companies and some users, are making them better.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

It is easier to clean than real teak, retains its color as teak greys over time, and has improved thermal performance compared to earlier versions says Steve Moore, the company's marketing manager.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

Once they made up their mind to purchase some porcelain, they could often be drawn into buying a teak chair or some other expensive piece of furniture.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu