tea

noun \ˈtē\

: a drink that is made by soaking the dried leaves of an Asian plant in hot water

: a similar drink that is made by using the dried leaves of another kind of plant

: the dried leaves that are used in making tea

Full Definition of TEA

a : a shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, the tea family) cultivated especially in China, Japan, and the East Indies

b : the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the tea plant prepared and cured for the market, classed according to method of manufacture into one set of types (as green tea, black tea, or oolong), and graded according to leaf size into another (as orange pekoe, pekoe, or souchong)

: an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water

a : any of various plants somewhat resembling tea in properties; also : an infusion of their leaves used medicinally or as a beverage

b : tea rose

a : refreshments usually including tea with sandwiches, crackers, or cookies served in late afternoon

b : a reception, snack, or meal at which tea is served

slang : marijuana

— tea·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See tea defined for English-language learners

See tea defined for kids

Illustration of TEA

Origin of TEA

Chinese (Xiamen) dé

First Known Use: circa 1655

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with TEA

b, be, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee

TEA Defined for Kids

tea

noun \ˈtē\

Definition of TEA for Kids

: the dried leaves and leaf buds of a shrub widely grown in eastern and southern Asia

: a drink made by soaking tea in boiling water

: refreshments often including tea served in late afternoon

: a party at which tea is served

: a drink or medicine made by soaking plant parts (as dried roots) <ginger tea>

Medical Dictionary

tea

noun \ˈtē\

Medical Definition of TEA

a : a shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, the tea family) cultivated especially in China, Japan, and the East Indies b : the prepared and cured leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the tea plant

: a mildly stimulating aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water

: any of various plants resembling tea in properties; also : an infusion of their leaves used medicinally or as a beverage