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tea

tea

97 1.0
A light afternoon meal with sandwiches, cakes, and a hot drink
  • noun
  • /ti/
  • UK
: 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
11 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
5 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
1 7.4

A light meal eaten between main meals

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

Idioms

for tea
  • UK
40 2.0

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

cup of tea
  • Informal
22 3.3

Something you like or are good at

2 8.2

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

1 9.7

Something that is not related to what people are talking about

1 8.5

Something not important to the current topic

Very weak and hard to believe

Compounds

tea party
  • Literature
303 6.7

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

51 1.0

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

44 1.4

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

28 1.0

Tea from leaves steamed and dried with a light fresh taste

19 1.3

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

16 1.0

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

13 2.9

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

11 1.7

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

8 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

ice tea
  • US
7 1.3

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

7 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

5 1.0

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

tea ceremony
  • Formal
4 5.3

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

4 3.7

A small cafe where people drink tea and eat light food

3 1.0

A hot drink made by steeping ginger slices in boiling water

3 1.0

A cloth for drying washed dishes and cutlery

3 1.6

A small flat sweet cookie that people eat with tea

3 6.0

A soft cover placed over a teapot to keep tea warm

3 2.4

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

2 1.3

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

2 1.5

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

2 3.0

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

weak tea
  • Informal
2 3.7

A drink with little flavor or something that fails to convince

2 2.4

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

sun tea
  • US
2 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

1 3.0

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

beef tea
  • Archaic
1 7.7

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

1 2.8

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

A strong black tea blend often served with milk at breakfast

1 2.3

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

1 2.7

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

1 3.7

A small cart on wheels used to serve tea and snacks

1 4.1

A strong wooden box used to store or carry tea

1 3.7

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

1 3.3

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

1 3.4

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

1 8.9

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

1 2.1

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

1 2.2

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

1 2.3

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

A long-handled spoon for stirring drinks in tall glasses

1 8.6

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

tea gown
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

1 4.2

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

1 8.9

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

1 5.4

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

1 3.5

Having a gentle smell like tea

1 2.7

A small cloth put on a table when serving tea

pretend tea party
  • Baby Talk
1 2.7

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

cambric tea
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

1 2.0

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

1 9.9

A strong smelling plant with bright flowers used to make tea

1 8.8

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

1 5.4

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

tea family
  • Specialized
1 5.5

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

1 8.9

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

1 8.1

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

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

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

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

9.9

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

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

A thing that is very sweet and makes you feel happy

3.2

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

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
27 1.0
tea
  • UK
97 1.0
snack
440 1.0
refreshment
55 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.