tea
tea Lexical Profile
tea Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hot or cold aromatic beverage made by infusing the dried, crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.
"She poured a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea and added a slice of lemon."
The dried and processed leaves of the tea shrub, prepared as a culinary product for brewing beverages.
"The merchant imported several chests of loose-leaf green tea from Fujian."
British A light afternoon meal typically consisting of sandwiches, scones, and cakes served with tea, or a main evening meal in parts of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
"We invited the neighbors over for afternoon tea in the garden."
An evergreen shrub or small tree (Camellia sinensis) of the family Theaceae, native to East Asia and cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its caffeine-rich leaves.
"Rows of neatly pruned tea bushes covered the misty terraced hillsides of Darjeeling."
Gossip, personal drama, or confidential truth shared in conversation (slang).
"Everyone gathered around the table waiting for him to spill the tea about the scandal."
• verb
British To drink tea or partake in a tea meal.
"The travelers teaed at a small country inn before resuming their journey."
• Rhymes for tea
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century via Dutch 'thee' from the Hokkien (Min Nan) Chinese dialect word 'tê' (茶), traded through the port of Xiamen by the Dutch East India Company.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.