Skip to main content
tea

tea

9 1.0
A tropical evergreen shrub with leaves used to make a hot drink
  • noun
  • /ti/
: planta de té
  • According to the protestors, more than 1,000 Iranian tea plantations have gone bankrupt in recent months.
  • tea plants
  • tea plantations
  • tea estates

These are different types of it's all the same tea plant, but they're processed differently.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Shambu has become one of Surya's tea boys and refills their tea.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The end-of-year rise of international coffee and tea prices will provide a boost to export revenues.

    Academic text (1994)
  • And now we are getting a tour of the tea farm.

  • The tea area, which is essential in a British kitchen.

  • You send up tea for six, please.

  • It's my last tea this season.

  • I live in the center of the largest tea district in Java.

  • A few of these women operate small businesses, selling food items like sugar, tea, and cooking fat from their homes.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Shambu leaves his post in the tea shop to join them.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I enjoy having a cup of tea each morning to start my day.

Synonyms

Camellia sinensis
vstea
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A plant from Asia whose leaves are grown to make tea

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific term

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

Surface Forms

tea singular
teas plural

Etymology

Tea is also the name of the plant whose leaves we use to make the drink, so calling the shrub tea reminds us it is the source of the beverage. Farmers pick the leaves from this plant to make tea.