Definition of 'tea'
Word forms: plural teas
1. variable noun
2. mass noun [usually noun NOUN]
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]
6. variable noun
Some people refer to the main meal that they eat in the early part of the evening as tea.
[British]
7.
See sb's cup of tea
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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tea
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Video: pronunciation of
tea
tea in British English
noun
1.
2.
c.
(as modifier)
tea caddy
tea urn
3.
a.
any of various plants that are similar to Camellia sinensis or are used to make a tealike beverage
b.
any such beverage
4. mainly British
a. Also called: afternoon tea
b.
(as modifier)
a tea party
8. See tea and sympathy
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C17: from Chinese (Amoy) t'e, from Ancient Chinese d'atea in American English
noun
1.
2.
its dried and prepared leaves, used to make a beverage
3.
the beverage made by soaking such leaves in boiling water
4.
any of several plants resembling or used as tea
6. British
a.
a light meal, esp. in the late afternoon, at which tea is the usual beverage
b.
a more substantial, early evening meal that is often the main meal of the day (in Britain usually called high tea)
8. US, Slang
marijuana
adjective
9.
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
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
Amoy Chin t'e (Mandarin ch'a)
tea in American English
(ti)
noun
1.
2.
the shrub itself, extensively cultivated in China, Japan, India, etc., and having fragrant white flowers
Compare tea family3.
the beverage so prepared, served hot or iced
5.
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
8.
an afternoon reception at which tea is served
9. slang
marijuana
10. See one's cup of tea
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
tealess adjective
Word origin
[1590–1600; 1940–45 for def. 9; ‹ dial. Chin (Xiamen) t'e, akin to Chin chá]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.
COBUILD Key Words for Hospitality. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'tea' in a sentence
tea
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Quotations
Word lists with
tea
Soft drinks, shrubQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which shrub am I?
any onagraceous shrub of the mostly tropical genus Fuchsia, widely cultivated for their showy drooping purple, red, or white flowers
Which shrub am I?
any of several trailing ericaceous shrubs of the genus Vaccinium, such as the European V. oxycoccus, that bear sour edible red berries
Which shrub am I?
either of two shrubs, Erythroxylon coca or E. truxiuense, native to the Andes: family Erythroxylaceae
Which shrub am I?
either of two North American anacardiaceous shrubs, Rhus toxicodendron or R. diversiloba, that are related to the poison ivy and cause a similar rash
Which shrub am I?
any of various low-growing rosaceous plants of the genus Fragaria, such as F. vesca (wild strawberry) and F. ananassa (garden strawberry), which have white flowers and red edible fruits and spread by runners
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More idioms containing
tea
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tea
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In other languages
tea
British English: tea
/tiː/ NOUN
drink Tea is a drink. You make it by pouring hot water on to the dry leaves of a plant called the tea bush.
- American English: tea /ˈti/
- Arabic: شَاي
- Brazilian Portuguese: chá
- Chinese: 茶
- Croatian: čaj
- Czech: čaj
- Danish: te
- Dutch: thee
- European Spanish: té
- Finnish: tee
- French: thé
- German: Tee
- Greek: τσάι
- Italian: tè
- Japanese: お茶
- Korean: 차 음료수
- Norwegian: te
- Polish: herbata
- European Portuguese: chá
- Romanian: ceai
- Russian: чай
- Latin American Spanish: té
- Swedish: te
- Thai: น้ำชา
- Turkish: çay
- Ukrainian: чай
- Vietnamese: chè trà
British English: tea
/tiː/ NOUN
meal Tea is a meal that you eat in the afternoon or the early evening.
- American English: tea /ˈti/
- Arabic: شَاي
- Brazilian Portuguese: chá
- Chinese: 下午茶
- Croatian: užina
- Czech: svačinaodpolední
- Danish: middagsmad
- Dutch: avondeten
- European Spanish: merienda
- Finnish: tee
- French: goûter heure du thé
- German: Tee
- Greek: κολατσιό
- Italian: tè
- Japanese: 夕食
- Korean: 저녁식사
- Norwegian: te
- Polish: herbatka
- European Portuguese: chá
- Romanian: masă în cursul după-amiezii, la care se servește ceai
- Russian: полдник
- Latin American Spanish: onces merienda de la tarde
- Swedish: te
- Thai: น้ำชา
- Turkish: çay
- Ukrainian: полуденок
- Vietnamese: bữa ăn nhẹ
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tea
Related terms of
tea
Source
Definition of tea from the Collins English Dictionary
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