Illustration of tea
- tea 1a
plural teas
1
a
: a widely cultivated shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, the tea family) native to China, northern India, and southeastern Asia and having glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers
b
: the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the tea plant prepared for use in beverages usually by immediate curing by heat or by such curing following a period of fermentation
Note: Tea may be classified according to its method of manufacture (see black tea, green tea, oolong, white tea) or according to the leaf size of the plant it is produced from (see orange pekoe, pekoe, souchong).
2
: an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by soaking them in usually boiling water
3
a
: any of various plants used like tea
also
: a drink prepared by soaking their parts (such as leaves or roots) and used medicinally or as a beverage
mint tea
an herbal tea
b
: tea rose
4
a
: refreshments usually including tea with sandwiches, crackers, or cookies served in late afternoon
b
: a reception, snack, or meal at which tea is served
5
slang
: marijuana
6
the tea slang
: private or inside information especially of a personal nature
We know there've been breakups, social media battles and maybe even a new romance since the show dropped in February, and it's about time we got the tea on the divorces and everything that's happened since.—
Bethany Barton
—usually used in the phrase spill the teaBethany BartonA former bridesmaid is spilling the tea after her bridezilla now-ex-friend … set her up to look like she stole the show at the wedding.—Adriana Diaz
Adriana DiazHe also spilled the tea on why Ewan McGregor is the funniest actor on set and why out of all the characters in the Star Wars universe, Yoda would be his ideal dinner date.—Neil Shaw
Neil Shawcalled also the T
Examples of tea in a Sentence
Let's meet for tea tomorrow.
That shop does a great afternoon tea.
Recent Examples on the Web
This long-term approach allowed scientists to account for changes in coffee and tea consumption over time, while monitoring for both clinical dementia diagnoses and subtle shifts in cognitive function.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Both teas offer health benefits in regard to other aspects of health, such as weight management, blood sugar and insulin resistance, and chronic disease management.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 10 Feb. 2026
The older version of the game, called Test cricket, spreads over five full days of play, and its duration as well as its colonial-era quirks (players wear white while representing their country and take breaks during the day for lunch and tea) have often lent themselves to ridicule.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Rates include all meals (including an afternoon tea), the use of amenities like a sauna and hot tub at the spa, and activities that include horseback riding, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and archery in the summer and snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing in the winter.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tea
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Both teas offer health benefits in regard to other aspects of health, such as weight management, blood sugar and insulin resistance, and chronic disease management.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 10 Feb. 2026
The older version of the game, called Test cricket, spreads over five full days of play, and its duration as well as its colonial-era quirks (players wear white while representing their country and take breaks during the day for lunch and tea) have often lent themselves to ridicule.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Rates include all meals (including an afternoon tea), the use of amenities like a sauna and hot tub at the spa, and activities that include horseback riding, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and archery in the summer and snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing in the winter.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tea
Cite this Entry
“Tea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tea. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tea
noun1
a
: a shrub related to the camellias that has fragrant white flowers and is grown mainly in China, Japan, India, and Sri Lanka
b
: the leaves and leaf buds of the tea prepared for use in beverages
c
: a beverage prepared from tea by soaking the prepared leaves and buds in boiling water
2
: a drink or medicine made by soaking parts (as leaves or dried roots) of plants other than the tea shrub
ginger tea
3
a
: a late afternoon serving of tea and a light meal
b
: a party, snack, or meal at which tea is served
Medical Definition
tea
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, the tea family) cultivated especially in China, Japan, and the East Indies
b
: the prepared and cured leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the tea plant
2
: a mildly stimulating aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water
3
: any of various plants resembling tea in properties
also
: an infusion of their leaves used medicinally or as a beverage
TEA
2 of 2 abbreviation
tetraethylammonium
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