tea table
1
2.4
- noun
- /ti ˈteɪbəl/
- UK
:
mesa de té
- Every Sunday, we set up a tea table in the garden to enjoy our favorite blends while relaxing outdoors.
- tea table and chest
Examples
-
She left her daughter a mahogany tea table and tea chest.
Academic text (1996) -
Lady Balmerino appeared to be equally perplexed, but had been kind, making certain Isobel sat next to her at the tea table, and taking pains to see that she was not left out of any conversation.
Fiction book (1990) -
The girl was setting out teacups on the tea table.
Fiction book (1990) -
"Hello, again," he said, sitting across the tea table from her in a slipcovered armchair.
Fiction book (1999) -
Throughout the winter, Darla kept up regular visits to Minnie's tea table.
Fiction book (1991) -
She watched, fascinated, every move that Julia Ashley made as she presided at the tea table.
Fiction book (1991) -
A half-hour later, the tea table lay in shambles, the decanter stood empty, and the three of them sat in a shared stupor of content.
Fiction book (1992) -
Fashionable young people sat at an elegant tea table, Alice so grave she almost distracted one from two men in the foreground, seemingly passed out on the floor.
Fiction book (1998) -
During afternoon tea, guests often gather around the tea table for conversation and refreshments.
-
She carefully arranged the pastries on the tea table before the guests arrived for their visit.
Synonyms
1
3.7
A small cart on wheels used to serve tea and snacks
1
2.7
A small cart on wheels for serving tea, coffee, or light food
A small table on wheels for serving tea and light food
A small cart on wheels used to serve tea and light food
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a small table used for serving tea' is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'tea' (the beverage) with 'table' (a piece of furniture), i.e., a table for tea. This noun-noun construction is cross-linguistically common and follows transparent semantic logic, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The name tea table comes from the simple idea of a small table for tea. Imagine a little table with a teapot and cups ready for 'afternoon tea', so tea table means 'a small table used to serve tea'.