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tea

tea

194 1.0
A light afternoon meal with sandwiches, cakes, and a hot drink
  • noun
  • /ti/
  • UK
translation icon : merienda
  • During our tea gathering, everyone shared stories and enjoyed light conversation.
  • afternoon tea
  • a tea party
  • a tea room

And just like that, you've got English tea sandwiches.

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Examples

  • After a short nap, we sat on the balcony to have tea and special cakes we purchased in Hanoi.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Thought we could chat over some tea.

  • So there we have it, a nice simple little tea break fix.

  • We were always invited for tea, and we never had tea without cookies or something sweet.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Like let's meet up and we just plan to all have tea that night or whatever it might be.

  • Would you care to come back for tea when your husband's finished?

  • We had a wonderful afternoon tea on the grass with smiles and laughs all around.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The next afternoon, the Randalls came to take tea at Roger's invitation and to hear his progress report.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Simply sitting down for tea with a diplomat fulfilled the Taliban's major needs before bargaining ever began.

    Academic text (2010)
  • We had a lovely afternoon tea with sandwiches and scones in the garden.

Synonyms

meal
vstea
1.0

A time when people eat, for example breakfast or dinner

is a particular light midafternoon meal, not any regular eating occasion
afternoon tea
vstea
  • UK
9 1.7

A light meal in the afternoon with tea and small cakes, sandwiches, or scones

is a light midafternoon meal usually including sandwiches or cakes
teatime
vstea
  • UK
6 3.7

Afternoon time when people have tea and a light meal like cakes

is the meal itself rather than the time it happens
collation
vstea
  • Archaic
7.4

A light meal eaten between main meals

is specifically a midafternoon meal rather than any between-meals snack

Idioms

cup of tea
  • Informal
35 3.3

Something you like or are good at

for tea
  • UK
13 2.0

To have tea and a light meal with someone in the afternoon or early evening

8.2

Refuse to do something even for a very large amount of money because it is too important to give up

Very weak and hard to believe

8.5

Something not important to the current topic

Something that is not related to what people are talking about

Compounds

65 1.0

A cold drink of tea served with ice and sometimes sugar or lemon

tea party
  • Literature
61 6.7

A political movement in the United States that wants smaller government and lower taxes

23 1.0

Tea from leaves steamed and dried with a light fresh taste

23 1.4

A social gathering in the afternoon where people drink tea and eat light food

ice tea
  • US
20 1.3

A cold drink of tea poured over ice, often with lemon or sugar

17 1.3

A hot drink made from herbs or other plants, not tea leaves

11 1.0

A small paper bag with tea leaves for making one cup of tea

10 2.9

A drink people make by pouring hot water over dried camomile flowers to help them relax

9 1.7

A light meal in the afternoon with tea and small cakes, sandwiches, or scones

6 1.4

A matching set of cups, saucers, and a teapot used to serve tea

A protest in 1773 when American colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxes

5 3.3

An early evening meal with tea and foods like sandwiches and cakes

5 1.0

A dark, strong tea made from leaves left to change color

tea ceremony
  • Formal
3 5.3

A formal event in Japan or China where people prepare and serve tea carefully according to tradition

3 2.4

A set of matching cups, teapot, and dishes used to serve tea

2 1.0

A hot drink made by steeping ginger slices in boiling water

2 1.0

A cloth for drying washed dishes and cutlery

1 3.0

A hot drink made by soaking plant leaves or flowers in hot water

sun tea
  • US
1 4.8

Tea left in sunlight to steep and served cold with ice

1 3.8

A garden bush with large pink or yellow flowers that have a nice smell

weak tea
  • Informal
1 3.7

A drink with little flavor or something that fails to convince

1 6.0

A soft cover placed over a teapot to keep tea warm

1 1.3

A short informal break at work to drink tea or another drink

1 2.4

A small piece of furniture for serving tea and snacks to guests

1 1.5

A flat thing used to carry a teapot and cups when serving tea

A strong black tea blend often served with milk at breakfast

1 2.8

A hot drink you make by putting sage leaves in hot water

beef tea
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A clear drink made by cooking beef slowly in water for sick people

1 2.7

A small cart on wheels for serving tea, coffee, or light food

1 3.4

A small metal ball with holes that holds loose tea leaves while brewing

1 3.7

A small cart on wheels used to serve tea and snacks

1 3.7

A light tea made from young leaves with little processing that has a pale color and gentle flavor

A tea made from the leaves of a plant with yellow flowers that people use as medicine

cambric tea
  • Archaic
9.9

A weak tea that people make with milk and sugar for children

A black tea from Sri Lanka with a bright, citrus taste

A type of Chinese black tea made from rolled leaves with a smooth, mild taste

crystal tea
  • Archaic
9.9

A small evergreen shrub with white bell-shaped flowers whose leaves were used to make tea during the American Revolution

4.2

A hot drink made by putting dill leaves or seeds in water

A bush with spiny branches that has purple flowers and bright orange-red berries

8.9

Leaves of a plant that people chew or brew as tea to feel more awake and a little happy

8.9

A drink or chew made from plant leaves that makes you feel more awake

8.9

An evergreen shrub with hairy leaves and small white flowers that people brew as tea

9.9

A small bush with strong-smelling leaves that grows in bogs

8.1

A strong-smelling herb used for cooking and in traditional medicine

8.6

A low shrub with white bell-shaped flowers and fragrant leaves used for herbal tea

A small bush that grows in the Rocky Mountains with sticky, scented leaves

A long-handled spoon for stirring drinks in tall glasses

9.9

A strong smelling plant with bright flowers used to make tea

A South American plant with dried leaves used to make mate, a hot caffeinated drink

pretend tea party
  • Baby Talk
2.7

Children play at having a formal tea with toy cups and pretend food

A thing that is very sweet and makes you feel happy

Having a gentle smell like tea

A small tool placed over a cup to catch loose tea leaves when pouring

4.1

A strong wooden box used to store or carry tea

2.7

A small cloth put on a table when serving tea

1.6

A small flat sweet cookie that people eat with tea

2.3

A sweet bread often made with dried fruit and served with tea

2.1

A small box with a lid for keeping tea leaves or tea bags

A strong liquid made from tea leaves used to flavor drinks and food

A small cloth used to protect clothes and hold food during tea

3.7

A small cafe where people drink tea and eat light food

tea family
  • Specialized
5.5

A group of trees and bushes from Asia that includes the tea plant and camellias

3.0

A garden or outdoor area where people sit to drink tea and eat light food

tea gown
  • Archaic
9.9

A long loose dress that women wore at home in the afternoon for tea

1.0

A dried leaf from the tea plant used to make a hot drink

2.2

A small metal container with holes that holds tea leaves while brewing

3.2

An electric machine that heats water, brews tea, and keeps it warm

3.3

A large metal container that holds and serves hot tea at gatherings

5.4

A small cart on wheels used to serve tea and light food

tea tortrix
  • Indian
9.9

A small moth that eats leaves of tea and coffee plants, damaging crops

A drink like tea that uses herbs or flowers instead of tea leaves

9.9

A small shrub from the Rocky Mountains with leaves used to make a warm drink

9.9

A tropical American plant with a strong, unpleasant smell

How Filling

to lunch
33 1.0
tea
  • UK
194 1.0
snack
471 1.0
refreshment
53 1.8

Surface Forms

tea singular
teas plural

Etymology

Tea also came to mean a light afternoon meal because people often had a cup of tea with sandwiches or cakes at that time. That's why in some places 'having tea' means a small meal as well as the drink.