tee

The word “tee” means the small peg used to hold a golf ball, or the marked spot where a golfer starts each hole. In plain terms, most often the golf peg/spot, "tee up" meaning to set something up, or (in computing) to duplicate output to two destinations.

“Tee” is pronounced TEE (/ˈtiː/ in IPA).

Here is “tee” used in a sentence: “He placed the ball on the tee and took a practice swing.”

Depending on how it is used, “tee” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “tee” comes from Latin. The golf sense comes from Middle English, ultimately from the Latin name of the letter T. The computing sense comes from the T-shaped pipe fitting that splits flow in two directions.

“Tee” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Tee” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the small peg used to hold a golf ball, or the marked spot where a golfer starts each hole.

A tee is the small peg used to hold the golf ball, or the marked spot where a golfer starts each hole, while a tee shot is the actual stroke played from that starting position. The tee is the equipment or location, and the tee shot is the action performed there.

Figuratively, to tee something up means to set it up so it is ready to happen, borrowing the golf image of placing a ball on a tee before hitting it. It is commonly used in business or planning contexts, such as 'tee up a meeting.'

In plumbing or signal contexts, to tee means to split a pipe, signal, or output so that it goes to more than one place, often using a T-shaped fitting or connector.