“Teas” or “Tease” or “Tees” or “Tis”

Overview

teas / tease / tees / tis are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

teas: (noun) a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water. (noun) a light midafternoon meal of tea and sandwiches or cakes. (noun) a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree extensively cultivated in e.g. China and Japan and India; source of tea leaves. (noun) a reception or party at which tea is served. (noun) dried leaves of the tea shrub; used to make tea.

tease: (noun) someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity). (noun) the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances. (verb) annoy persistently. (verb) harass with persistent criticism or carping. (verb) to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them. (verb) tear into pieces. (verb) raise the nap of (fabrics). (verb) disentangle and raise the fibers of. (verb) separate the fibers of. (verb) mock or make fun of playfully. (verb) ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect.

tees: (noun) the starting place for each hole on a golf course. (noun) support holding a football on end and above the ground preparatory to the kickoff. (noun) a short peg put into the ground to hold a golf ball off the ground. (verb) place on a tee. (verb) connect with a tee.

tis: (noun) shrub with terminal tufts of elongated leaves used locally for thatching and clothing; thick sweet roots are used as food; tropical southeastern Asia, Australia and Hawaii. (noun) the syllable naming the seventh (subtonic) note of any musical scale in solmization.

Pronunciation

teas: t·IY·z

tease: t·IY·z

tees: t·IY·z

tis: t·IH·z

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