tea

tea  (t)

n.

1.

a. An eastern Asian evergreen shrub or small tree (Camellia sinensis) having fragrant, nodding, cup-shaped white flowers and glossy leaves.

b. The young, dried leaves of this plant, prepared by various processes and used to make a hot beverage.

2. An aromatic, slightly bitter beverage made by steeping tea leaves in boiling water.

3. Any of various beverages, made as by steeping the leaves of certain plants or by extracting an infusion especially from beef.

4. Any of various plants having leaves used to make a tealike beverage.

5. A tea rose.

6. Chiefly British

a. An afternoon refreshment consisting usually of sandwiches and cakes served with tea.

b. High tea.

7. An afternoon reception or social gathering at which tea is served.

8. Slang Marijuana.

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[Probably Dutch thee, from Malay teh, from Chinese (Amoy) te (equivalent to Chinese (Mandarin) chá).]

Word History: "Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,/ Dost sometimes counsel takeand sometimes tea." When Alexander Pope wrote these lines from The Rape of the Lock in 1714, tea still rhymed with obey. This was true of many words spelled with ea, and it was just about in Pope's time that nearly all these words started changing their pronunciation from () to (), as in our modern pronunciation of tea (t). Most modern English words whose main vowel sound is spelled -ea- were pronounced with long vowels in Middle and Old English. Many of these vowels were shortened in the 16th and 17th century to their modern pronunciations, as in our words dead and sweat. But those words that were pronounced with an () sound in Middle English did not undergo this sound change and kept their long vowels, undergoing the further change in Pope's time to the modern "long e" sound. There were several exceptions to this last sound change, most notably the words break, great, and steak. Interestingly, the old pronunciation is also retained in Irish family names, such as Reagan, Shea, Beatty, and Yeats (in contrast to British family names such as Keats).

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tea

Noun

1.

a. a drink made by infusing the dried chopped leaves of an Asian shrub in boiling water: would you like a cup of tea?

b. the dried chopped leaves of an Asian shrub used to make this drink: could you get some tea at the grocer's?

c. the Asian shrub on which these leaves grow

2. Brit, Austral, & NZ the main evening meal

3. Chiefly Brit a light meal eaten in mid-afternoon, usually consisting of tea and cakes, sometimes with sandwiches

4. a drink like tea made from other plants: mint tea [Ancient Chinese d`a]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tea - a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water; "iced tea is a cooling drink" beverage, drinkable, potable, drink - any liquid suitable for drinking; "may I take your beverage order?" tea leaf, tea - dried leaves of the tea shrub; used to make tea; "the store shelves held many different kinds of tea"; "they threw the tea into Boston harbor" cambric tea - a beverage for children containing hot water and milk and sugar and a small amount of tea cuppa, cupper - a cup of tea herb tea, herbal, herbal tea - tea-like drink made of leaves of various herbs ice tea, iced tea - strong tea served over ice sun tea - tea made by exposing tea leaves steeped in water to the direct rays of the sun; usually served with ice caffein, caffeine - a bitter alkaloid found in coffee and tea that is responsible for their stimulating effects
	2.	tea - a light midafternoon meal of tea and sandwiches or cakes; "an Englishman would interrupt a war to have his afternoon tea" afternoon tea, teatime meal, repast - the food served and eaten at one time Britain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
	3.	tea - a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree extensively cultivated in e.g. China and Japan and India; source of tea leaves; "tea has fragrant white flowers" Camellia sinensis tea leaf, tea - dried leaves of the tea shrub; used to make tea; "the store shelves held many different kinds of tea"; "they threw the tea into Boston harbor" genus Camellia - tropical Asiatic evergreen shrubs or small trees bush, shrub - a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
	4.	tea - a reception or party at which tea is served; "we met at the Dean's tea for newcomers" reception - a formal party of people; as after a wedding
	5.	tea - dried leaves of the tea shrub; used to make tea; "the store shelves held many different kinds of tea"; "they threw the tea into Boston harbor" tea leaf herb - aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities tea bag - a measured amount of tea in a bag for an individual serving of tea tea - a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water; "iced tea is a cooling drink" black tea - fermented tea leaves green tea - tea leaves that have been steamed and dried without fermenting oolong - Chinese tea leaves that have been partially fermented before being dried Camellia sinensis, tea - a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree extensively cultivated in e.g. China and Japan and India; source of tea leaves; "tea has fragrant white flowers"

Translations

tea [tiː] n → té m;

(BRIT) (snack) → merienda;

high tea (BRIT) → merienda-cena

tea [tiː] n → thé m;

(Brit) (= snack) (for children) → goûter m;

high tea (Brit) → collation combinant goûter et dîner

tea [tiː] n (drink) → Tee m;

(Brit) (= evening meal); Abendessen nt;

afternoon tea (Brit) → Nachmittagstee m

tea [tiː] n → tè m inv;

(BRIT) (= snack) (for children) → merenda;

high tea (BRIT) → cena leggera (presa nel tardo pomeriggio)

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tea

n tea [tiː]

1 a type of plant grown in Asia, especially India, Ceylon and China, or its dried and prepared leaves I bought half a kilo of tea. tee نَبات الشاي чай čaj te der Tee τσάι (φυτό) té tee بته ی چای tee thé תֵּה चाय čaj (biljka) tea teh terunni; te tè 茶 차나무; 차잎 arbata tēja teh thee te, tebusk herbata chá ceai чай čaj čaj čaj te ต้นชา çay 茶樹，茶 чай چائے کي پتي cây chè 茶树，茶

2 a drink made by adding boiling water to these Have a cup of tea! tee مَشْروب الشاي чай čaj te der Tee τσάι (ρόφημα) té tee چای tee thé תֵּה हल्का नाश्ता सहित čaj (napitak) tea teh te tè 茶 끊는 물을 부은 음료로서의) 차 arbata tēja air teh thee te herbata chá ceai чай čaj čaj čaj te น้ำชา çay 茶 чай چائے کا مشروب nước trà 茶

3 a cup etc of tea Two teas, please! tee فِنْجان شاي чай čaj kop te; te der Tee φλιτζάνι τσάι té tass teed فنجان kupillinen teetä thé ספל תֵּה चाय šalica čaja tea teh te(bolli) tè 茶一杯 차 한 잔 arbata tēja cawan air teh thee kopp med te herbata chavena de chá ceai чай čaj čaj šoljica čaja te น้ำชา çay 茶水 чай ايک پيالي چائے chén trà 茶水

4 a small meal in the afternoon (afternoon tea) or a larger one in the early evening, at which tea is often drunk She invited him to tea. koek-en-tee وَجْبَة الشاي بعْد الظُهْر следобеден чай čaj, svačina eftermiddagste; aftenmåltid der Tee απογευματινό τσάι merienda teejoomine, kella-viie-tee عصرانه iltapäivätee thé, goûter אֲרוַּחת אַרבָּע शाम की चाय užina (délutáni) tea acara minum teh síðdegiste tè 軽食 오후의 차를 곁들인 간식 arbata tēja (ēdienreize) minum petang thee, avondeten mellommat; kveldsmat podwieczorek lanche ceai чай čaj, olovrant malica s čajem užina eftermiddagste, kvällsmat ของว่างที่รับประทานเวลาน้ำชา ikindi kahvaltısı 茶點 легка вечеря з чаєм ناشتہ bữa trà 茶点

ˈtea-bag

a small bag or sachet of thin paper containing tea, on to which boiling water is poured in a pot or cup. teesakkie كيس شاي чай в торбичка-филтър sáček čaje tepose der Teebeutel φακελάκι τσάι bolsita de té teekott چای کیسه ای teepussi sachet de thé שָׂקִיק תֵּה चाय के बहुत छोटे कागज का थैला vrećica čaja zacskós tea kantung teh tepoki bustina di tè ティーバッグ 1회용 티백 arbatos maišelis tējas maisiņš uncang teh theezakje tepose herbata ekspresowa saquinho de chá săculeţ de ceai чайный пакетик vrecúško čaju čajna vrečka kesica čaja tepåse ถุงใส่ใบชา (เป็นถุงกระดาษ หรือกระดาษกรอง) poşet çay 茶葉袋(指袋茶) чайний пакетик چائے کي تھيلي gói chè 茶叶袋（指袋茶）

n ˈteacup

a cup, usually of medium size, in which tea is served. teekoppie فِنْجان شاي чаена чаша šálek na čaj tekop die Teetasse φλιτζάνι του τσαγιού taza de té teetass فنجان teekuppi tasse à thé סֶפֶל תֵּה चाय का प्याला šalica za čaj teáscsésze cangkir teh tebolli tazza da tè 紅茶茶わん 찻잔 arbatinis puodelis tējas krūze cawan teh theekopje tekopp filiżanka do herbaty chávena de chá ceaşcă de ceai (чайная) чашка šálka na čaj čajna skodelica šoljica za čaj tekopp ถ้วยน้ำชา çay fincanı 茶杯 чайна чашка چائے کي پيالي chén chè 茶杯

n ˈtea-party

an afternoon party at which tea is usually served She has been invited to a tea-party. teepartytjie حَفْلَة شاي чаено парти odpolední společnost teselskab die Teegesellschaft απογευματινή συγκέντρωση για τσάι merienda teeõhtu مهمانی عصرانه teekutsut thé מְסִיבַּת תֵה चाय पार्टी čajanka tea acara minum teh teboð tè お茶の会 (오후의) 다과회 arbatëlë pēcpusdienas tēja (viesības) majlis minum teh theekransje teselskap herbatka towarzyska chá ceai чаепитие popoludňajšie posedenie čajanka čajanka tebjudning ปาร์ตี้น้ำชา çay partisi 茶會 чаювання چائے کي دعوت tiệc trà 茶会

n ˈteapot

a pot with a spout used for making and pouring tea. teepot إبْريق الشاي чайник čajová konvice tepotte die Teekanne τσαγιέρα tetera teekann قوری teekannu théière תִיוֹן चायदान čajnik teáskanna teko teketill teiera ティーポット 찻주전자 arbatinis tējkanna teko teh theepot tekanne dzbanek do herbaty bule ceainic (заварочный) чайник čajová kanvica čajnik čajnik tekanna กาน้ำชา çaydanlık, demlik 茶壺 заварювальний чайник چائے دان ấm để pha trà 茶壶

n ˈtearoom

a restaurant where tea, coffee, cakes etc are served. teekamer صالَة الشاي، مَطْعَم صَغير للشاي والقَهْوَة والكَعْك чаена зала čajovna, kavárna konditori die Teestube τεϊοποτείο salón de té teerestoran, teebaar کافی شاپ teehuone salon de thé בֵּית תֵה चाय-दुकान čajana, prostorija za posluživanje čaja teázó ruang minum teh testofa sala da tè 喫茶店 찻집 arbatinė tējnīca; konditoreja bilik minum teh tearoom tesalong, konditori herbaciarnia salão de chá cafenea; cofetărie кафе-кондитерская čajovňa, kaviareň čajnica čajdžinica teservering, tesalong ห้องน้ำชา çayhane, kafe 茶室 кафе-кондитерська چائے خانہ phòng trà 茶室

nouns ˈtea-set, *ˈtea-service

a set of cups, saucers and plates, sometimes with a teapot and milk-jug. teestel طَقْم شاي сервиз за чай čajová souprava testel das Teeservice σερβίτσιο τσαγιού juego de té teeserviis سرویس چایخوری teeastiasto service à thé מַעֲרֶכֶת כְּלֵי תֵּה चाय पिलाने का सामान čajni servis teáskészlet peralatan minum teh tesett/-stell servizio da tè 茶器一式 차도구[] 한 벌 arbatos servizas tējas servīze set teh theeservies teservise serwis do herbaty serviço de chá serviciu de ceai чайный сервиз čajová súprava čajni servis servis za čaj teservis ชุดน้ำชา çay takımı 茶具 чайний сервіз چائے کے برتنوں کا سيٹ bộ ấm chén để pha trà 茶具

n ˈteaspoon

1 a small spoon for use with a teacup I need a teaspoon to stir my tea. teelepel مِلْعَقَة شاي صَغيرَه чаена лъжичка čajová lžička teske der Teelöffel κουταλάκι του γλυκού cucharilla teelusikas قاشق چایخوری teelusikka cuiller à thé כַּפִית चाय का चम्मच, छोटा चम्मच čajna žličica kávéskanál sendok teh teskeið cucchiaino da tè 茶さじ 찻숟가락 (arbatinis) šaukštelis tējkarote sudu teh theelepeltje teskje łyżeczka colher de chá lin­gu­riţă de ceai чайная ложка čajová lyžička čajna žlička kašičica tesked ช้อนชา çay kaşığı 茶匙 чайна ложка چھوٹا چمچہ 茶匙

2 a teaspoonful a teaspoon of salt. teelepel ملء مِلْعَقَة الشاي чаена лъжичка lžička teskefuld der Teelöffel κουταλιά του γλυκού cucharadita teelusikatäis به اندازه قاشق چایخوری teelusikallinen cuillerée à café כַּפִּית छोटा चम्मच भर čajna žličica čega kávéskanál(nyi) sesendok teh teskeið cucchiaino da tè 茶さじ１杯 찻숟가락 하나 가득(한 분량) (arbatinis) šaukštelis tējkarote (daudzums) sudu the penuh theelepeltje teskje łyżeczka colher de chá linguriţă (полная) чайная ложка lyžička čajna žlička puna kašičica tesked ปริมาณหนึ่งช้อนชา çay kaşığı dolusu 一茶匙的 чайна ложка ايک چھوٹا چمچہ کي مقدار 一茶匙的

n ˈteaspoonful

an amount that fills a teaspoon two teaspoonfuls of salt. teelepel vol مقِدار مِلْعَقَة شاي чаена лъжичка lžička teskefuld der Teelöffelvoll κουταλιά του γλυκού cucharadita teelusikatäis به اندازه قاشق چایخوری teelusikallinen cuillerée à café כַּפִּית מְלֵאָה छोटा चम्मच भर količina koja stane u čajnu žličicu kávéskanálnyi sesendok teh teskeiðarfylli cucchiaino da tè 茶さじ１杯 찻숟가락 하나 가득(한 분량) (arbatinis) šaukštelis tējkarote (daudzums) sudu the penuh theelepeltje teskje łyżeczka colher de chá linguriţă (полная) чайная ложка lyžička polna čajna žlička puna kašičica tesked ปริมาณหนึ่งช้อนชา çay kaşığı dolusu 一茶匙(量) чайна ложка چھوٹا چمچہ بھر đầy thìa cà phê 一茶匙（量）

n ˈtea-time

the time in the late afternoon or early evening at which people take tea He said he would be back at tea-time. teetyd وَقْت شُرْب الشاي بَعْد الظُّهر чаено време doba svačiny sen eftermiddag; tidlig aften die Teestunde ώρα του τσαγιού hora del té teeaeg وقت چای عصرانه teeaika heure du thé אֲרוַּחת אַרבָּע चाय काल या समय vrijeme za čaj uzsonnaidő waktu minum teh tetími ora del tè お茶の時間 (오후의) 차 마시는 시간 pavakarė tējas laiks, vēla pēcpusdiena waktu minum teh theetijd tetid, ettermiddagste/-kaffe pora podwieczorku hora do chá ora ceaiului время вечернего чая čas olovrantu čas za čaj vreme za čaj tedags เวลาน้ำชา çay saati 用茶時間 час чаювання چائے کا وقت thời điểm uống trà vào buổi chiều 用茶时间

n ˈtea-towel

a cloth for drying dishes after they have been washed eg after a meal. teedoek مَناشِف الصُّحون кърпа utěrka viskestykke das Abtrockentuch πετσέτα για στέγνωμα πιάτων paño de cocina nõudekuivatusrätik دستمال نمچین astiapyyhe torchon (à vaisselle) מָגֶבֶת מִטבָּח चाय कपड़ा kuhinjska krpa törlőruha serbet cangkir viskustykki, diskaþurrka strofinaccio ふきん 행주 pašluostė trauku dvielis kain pengelap pinggan theedoek oppvaskhåndkle ścierka do naczyń pano da louça cârpă de vase чайное полотенце utierka kuhinjska krpa krpa za brisanje sudova torkhanduk ผ้าเช็ดจาน kurulama bezi 茶巾 чайний рушник صافي khăn để lau khô bát đĩa 茶巾