tea

[ tee ]

/ ti /

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 teas

Flock to this beautiful tea house to get a taste of authentic Japanese teas and sweets.
The Sweet Side of New York City|Emily Chang|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We had negotiated their 'credits' for some of our constituents to a considerable amount for the payment of teas and silks.
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844|William C. Hunter
Afternoon receptions and "At Homes" for which engraved invitations are sent out are practically the same as formal "teas."
How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters)|Mary Owens Crowther
The next subject to be considered, relative to India teas, is their Preparation.
A Treatise on Foreign Teas|Hugh Smith

At the same time a quantity of gypsum was produced and burned in the charcoal fires which were then roasting the teas.
Curiosities of Civilization|Andrew Wynter
American merchants had traded ginseng and furs for China silks and teas ever since the United States had been a nation.
The Path of Empire|Carl Russell Fish

British Dictionary definitions for teas

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 teas

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 teas

tea

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

tea

noun

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Origin of tea

Examples from the Web for teas

British Dictionary definitions for teas

tea

noun

Word Origin for tea

Word Origin and History for teas

tea

Idioms and Phrases with teas

tea