tea
Cross references:
1. black tea 2. oolong
tea \'te-\ n [Chin (Amoy) t'e] 1a: a shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family
Theaceae, the tea family ) cultivated esp. in China, Japan, and the East
Indies 1b: the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of this plant used in
preparing a beverage after curing by immediate withering and firing or by
firing after fermenting and oxidizing or after partial oxidizing
respectively 2: an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion
with boiling w ater 3: any of numerous other plants more or less like tea;
also : an in fusion from their leaves used medicinally or as a beverage 4a:
refreshments usu. including tea with bread and butter sandwiches, crack
ers, or cookies served in late afternoon 4b: a reception at which tea is
served