tea
tea — noun
1. a beverage made by placing dried, cut tea-plant leaves in hot water until the fl
a beverage made by placing dried, cut tea-plant leaves in hot water until the flavour transfers to the water; also, those prepared leaves used for this purpose
Paul always starts his morning with a cup of hot black tea.
collocation: black tea / green tea / oolong tea
The shelf in the pantry holds several boxes of oolong tea from Taiwan.
After dinner, Greta prefers green tea with a slice of lemon.
Yuki bought fresh jasmine tea from a small shop in Kyoto.
Putri stores her loose tea leaves in a sealed glass jar to keep them fresh.
2. a bush-like plant native to East Asia and cultivated in warm, rainy regions, who
a bush-like plant native to East Asia and cultivated in warm, rainy regions, whose young leaves and buds are picked and processed into leaves for the beverage
The tea plant grows best in the cool highlands of Sri Lanka.
Farmers on this Kenyan hillside have grown tea plants for three generations.
collocation: grow tea plants
Chidi visited a plantation where some of the tea plants were over a century old.
Tea plants need plenty of rain and warm temperatures to produce good leaves.
- tea bush
used when referring to the cultivated shrub form, which is pruned to waist height for harvesting
- Camellia sinensis
botanical Latin name; used in scientific or technical contexts
3. any hot beverage created by adding just-boiled water to flowers, fruit pieces, s
any hot beverage created by adding just-boiled water to flowers, fruit pieces, spices, or leaves from plants other than the tea shrub
Kian drinks peppermint tea every night before going to bed.
collocation: peppermint tea / chamomile tea / ginger tea
This chamomile tea helped Harper relax after a stressful week at work.
The cafe serves a fruit tea made with dried berries and hibiscus petals.
Anjali bought ginger tea bags for her sore throat and cough.
- herbal tea
the most common term for any non-Camellia plant infusion
- tisane
formal or technical term; rarely used in everyday conversation
- infusion
broader term covering any drink made by steeping plant material in hot water
4. a single serving of the drink, usually served in a cup or glass
a single serving of the drink, usually served in a cup or glass
The waitress brought Eli another cup of tea without being asked.
Would you like a cup of tea before you head back out into the rain?
phrase: a cup of tea
Mauricio ordered two teas and a slice of lemon cake at the cafe.
Abigail poured the tea carefully into a small porcelain cup.
- cup of tea
more explicit and slightly more formal than just 'tea'
- cuppa
British informal; 'Grab a cuppa' means 'get a cup of tea'
用法筆記
In countable form, 'two teas' means two cups or glasses of the drink. This works for any variety of tea — black, green, herbal — and is very common in restaurants and cafes.
常見錯誤
5. a selection of small foods such as finger sandwiches and cakes, served around mi
a selection of small foods such as finger sandwiches and cakes, served around mid-to-late afternoon alongside a pot of the beverage
The hotel serves afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and scones every day at three.
collocation: afternoon tea
Grandma treated us to afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel for her birthday.
Traditional afternoon tea usually includes small cakes, jam, and clotted cream.
Wren booked a table for afternoon tea at the old manor house.
- afternoon tea
the standard term for this light meal
- cream tea
a simpler version served with scones, jam, and clotted cream, but no sandwiches
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British. In the UK, 'afternoon tea' is a special occasion meal, while 'high tea' (also called 'meat tea') is a working-class evening meal. Outside the UK, 'afternoon tea' is often associated with hotels and tourist experiences.
常見錯誤
6. the hot, substantial meal served around five to six o'clock in the evening — a t
the hot, substantial meal served around five to six o'clock in the evening — a term most common in northern England and Scotland
In northern England, many families call their cooked evening meal 'tea'.
variety: Northern British usage
Mum is cooking a roast chicken with potatoes for tea tonight.
collocation: for tea (= as the evening meal)
"What time is tea?" "We usually eat at half past five."
The children have their tea at four and then do their homework.
用法筆記
In British households that use 'tea' for the evening meal, the midday meal is called 'dinner' or 'lunch', and the term 'dinner' may also refer to the evening meal in other regions. This usage can be confusing for learners — check the speaker's region to know which meal they mean.