tea — a hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water
Pronunciation (IPA): /tiː/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother spilled the tea about our neighbor's secret wedding!
- He drinks tea every morning to start his day.
- The British are famous for their afternoon tea tradition.
tea
NOUN[/tiː/]
a hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'tea' derives from Chinese cha (茶), the name of the tea plant and its leaves. The term traveled westward via the Silk Road, becoming 'chai' in Persian and Arabic, while maritime trade routes from southeastern China transmitted the Min Chinese pronunciation 'tê' through Dutch 'thee' into English.
Breakdown
Chinese cha → Min Chinese tê → Dutch thee → English tea. The progression reflects historical trade routes: inland routes preserved the original cha sound (chai), while maritime routes from China's coastal regions transmitted the Min dialect pronunciation tê, which Dutch merchants adopted as thee and English subsequently adapted as tea.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother spilled the tea about our neighbor's secret wedding!”
“He drinks tea every morning to start his day.”
“The British are famous for their afternoon tea tradition.”
“She's not my cup of tea, but she's a nice person.”
📚Related Words
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