tea
UK: tiː | US: tiː
n. 1. a hot drink made by infusing dried, crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.
n. 2. the dried leaves used to make this drink.
n. 3. a light afternoon meal including tea.
The word "tea" entered English in the 17th century via Dutch "thee," derived from the Malay "teh," which originated from the Min Chinese dialect word "tê" (茶). This reflects the global trade routes that spread tea from China to Europe. Unlike many loanwords, "tea" retains its monosyllabic simplicity across languages, making it a rare example of a direct phonetic borrowing with minimal morphological change.
She prefers green tea for its health benefits.
Would you like milk or sugar in your tea?
The British tradition of afternoon tea includes scones and sandwiches.
This shop sells a variety of herbal teas.
He brewed a pot of tea to welcome the guests.