tea definition - Dictionary

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tea

tea [ tee ] (plural teas)

noun

Definition:

1. dried leaves of Asian plant: the dried leaves of an Asian plant, often shredded, used to make a drink by adding boiling water

2. tea drink: a drink made with tea, served either hot or iced

3. drink made by infusion: a drink made by the infusion of plant leaves or flowers

drank some herbal tea

4. dried leaves or flowers for infusion: dried plant leaves or flowers, e.g. from herbs, used as the basis of a tea drink

bought a packet of herbal tea

5. Asian evergreen bush: an evergreen bush with toothed leathery leaves that are dried to make tea. Flowers: fragrant, cup-shaped. Native to: Asia. Latin name Camellia sinensis.

6. afternoon meal: a light meal taken in the afternoon, usually consisting of cake, sandwiches, and tea or other nonalcoholic drinks, or an afternoon social event at which this meal is eaten

7. U.K. evening meal: a meal eaten early in the evening

8. breakfast: in Guyana, the first meal of the day

9. drugs ( dated slang )
Same as marijuana

[Mid-17th century. Probably via Dutch tee and Malay teh< Chinese (Amoy dialect) te]

Spelling Note


	tea or tee? Do not confuse the spelling of tea and tee, which sound similar. Tea is a hot drink, a plant used to make it, or a light meal at which it is drunk, as in a cup of tea, tea leaves, a tea party. Tee can refer to a peg used in golf or to a T-shirt; the golf word tee is also used as a verb, as in teed off at the 18th hole.