tea

Universal Words noun 1 [U] the dried leaves, (called tea leaves), of the tea bush seealsoGREENTEA 2 [U] a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto tea leaves. It may be drunk with milk or lemon and/or sugar added: a cup / mug / pot of tea * China / lemon / iced tea * Would you like tea or coffee? * Do you take sugar in your tea? 3 [C] a cup of tea: Two teas, please. 4 [U,C] a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto the leaves of other plants: chamomile / mint / herb tea seealsoBEEFTEA 5 [U,C] the name used by some people in Britain for the cooked meal eaten in the evening, especially when it is eaten early in the evening: You can have your tea as soon as you come home from school. compareDINNER, SUPPER 6 [U,C] (BrE) a light meal eaten in the afternoon or early evening, usually with sandwiches and/or biscuits and cakes and with tea to drink: Would you like to come to tea on Sunday? seealsoCREAMTEA, HIGHTEA -< MEAL IDIOMS not for all the tea in China not even for a great reward: I wouldn't do your job. Not for all the tea in China! moreatCUPn.