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Definition of teakettle

teakettle

/ˈtiːˌkɛt.əl/
tea · ket · tle
Plural:teakettles
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teakettle Lexical Profile

teakettle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A covered vessel, typically made of metal or heat-resistant glass, equipped with a handle and a spout, used primarily for boiling water.

Example

"She placed the teakettle on the stove and waited for the high-pitched whistle signaling the water was boiling."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for teakettle

Word Nuance & Usage

In British English, this object is almost exclusively referred to simply as a 'kettle', whereas 'teakettle' is more commonly used in North American English to distinguish it from larger cooking kettles.

• Nearby Words

teacupful
teahouse
teak
teakettle
teakwood
teal
tealight

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'tea' (from Amoy Chinese 't'e') and 'kettle' (from Old English 'cetel', ultimately from Latin 'catillus' meaning deep pan or bowl). The combined term arose in the late 17th century as tea drinking became popular in the West.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Teakettle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/teakettle
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