Definition of 'tea'

Word Frequency

tea

(tiː )

Word forms: plural teas

1. variable noun

Tea is a drink made by adding hot water to tea leaves or tea bags. Many people add milk to the drink and some add sugar.

...a cup of tea.

Would you like some tea?

Four or five men were drinking tea from flasks.

A cup of tea can be referred to as a tea.

Would anybody like a tea or coffee?

2. mass noun [usually noun NOUN]

Drinks such as mint tea or chamomile tea are made by pouring hot water on the dried leaves of the particular plant or flower.

3. variable noun

The chopped dried leaves of the plant that tea is made from is referred to as tea.

...a packet of tea.

America imports about 190 million pounds of tea a year.

Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Jasmine are best-selling traditional teas.

4. variable noun

Tea is a meal some people eat in the late afternoon. It consists of food such as sandwiches and cakes, with tea to drink.

[British]

I'm doing the sandwiches for tea.

I took her to tea at the Ritz.

5. See also afternoon tea, high tea, meal

6. variable noun

Some people refer to the main meal that they eat in the early part of the evening as tea.

[British]

At five o'clock he comes back for his tea.

See sb's cup of tea

Image of
tea

Video: pronunciation of
tea

tea in British English

(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

4. mainly British

a. 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

c. Also called: high tea

afternoon tea that also includes a light cooked dish

5. British, Australian and New Zealand

the main evening meal

6. US and Canadian old-fashioned, slang

marijuana

7. slang, mainly US

scandalous information; gossip (esp in the phrase spill the tea)

8. See tea and sympathy

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

tea in American English

(ti )

noun

a white-flowered, evergreen plant (Camellia sinensis) of the tea family, grown in China, India, Japan, etc.

its dried and prepared leaves, used to make a beverage

the beverage made by soaking such leaves in boiling water

any of several plants resembling or used as tea

a tealike beverage made from such a plant or from a meat extract

mint tea, beef tea

6. British

a light meal, esp. in the late afternoon, at which tea is the usual beverage

a more substantial, early evening meal that is often the main meal of the day (in Britain usually called high tea)

a reception or other social gathering in the afternoon, at which tea, coffee, etc. are served

8. US, Slang

marijuana

adjective

designating a family (Theaceae, order Theales) of evergreen dicotyledonous trees, shrubs, or vines, often with showy flowers, found in warm regions and including the camellias and loblolly bay

Word origin

Amoy Chin t'e (Mandarin ch'a)

Word Frequency

tea in American English

(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

6. See beef bouillon

7. Brit

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

9. slang

marijuana

10. See one's cup of tea

Derived forms

tealess

adjective

Word origin

[1590–1600; 1940–45 for def. 9; ‹ dial. Chin (Xiamen) t'e, akin to Chin chá]

Word Frequency

tea in Hospitality

(ti)

Word forms: (regular plural) teas

noun (count) (noncount)

(Hospitality (hotel): Hotel bar)

Tea is a drink made by adding boiling water to tea leaves or tea bags.

COLLOCATIONS: cup of ~~ bag~ leaves

He handed them each a cup of tea.

Would you like some tea or coffee?

Pour me a cup of tea, please.

Examples of 'tea' in a sentence
tea

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

What if you want to make a cup of tea or go to the loo?One day he was invited back for tea.He tells me they do a fantastic afternoon tea.Young entrepreneurs mingle, picking up free tea and coffee from a circular bar.If you ask us both who makes the tea, it would be him.There was coffee, tea and snacks. Boots Clean eating or cream teas?You are coming back to tea with us. Voucher must be handed in to redeem your free regular tea or coffee.Why do you like tea more than coffee?

Quotations

Tea to the English is really a picnic indoorsAlice WalkerThe Color Purple

Look here, Steward, if this is coffee, I want tea; but if this is tea, then I wish for coffee Punch

Word lists with
tea

Soft drinks, shrub

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which shrub am I?

any evergreen shrub or tree of the myrtaceous genus Myrtus, esp M. communis, a S European shrub with pink or white flowers and aromatic blue-black berries

arbutus dogwood myrtle

Which shrub am I?

any of a large variety of evergreen trees and shrubs that comprise the genus Grevillea, native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Caledonia: family Proteaceae

banksia grevillea olearia

Which shrub am I?

any rosaceous plant or shrub of the N temperate genus Potentilla, having five-petalled flowers

acanthus hawthorn potentilla

Which shrub am I?

an Australian shrub of the genus Crowea, having pink flowers

banksia crowea eriostemon

Which shrub am I?

a N temperate shrub, Ribes rubrum, having greenish flowers and small edible rounded red berries: family Grossulariaceae

blackcurrant gooseberry redcurrant

Your score: