noun
Uncommon
tee
TEE
Tee (noun) means the small peg used to hold a golf ball, or the marked spot where a golfer starts each hole. Example: “He placed the ball on the tee and took a practice swing.”
noun
1
The small peg used to hold a golf ball, or the marked spot where a golfer starts each hole.
"He placed the ball on the tee and took a practice swing."
"Each golfer waited for their turn at the first tee."
"He pushed the tee into the grass and balanced the ball on top."
verb
1
To set a ball up on a tee, ready to be hit; often used figuratively for setting something up to happen.
"She teed off first on the par-5."
"The report teed up the discussion for the board meeting."
"The captain teed up the ball and stared down the fairway."
2
To split a signal, pipe, or output so it goes to more than one place.
"The command tees the output to a file and the screen at the same time."
"You can tee the video feed to both the screen and the recorder."
"The plumber teed the water pipe so it could feed two taps."
How to use tee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the golf peg/spot, "tee up" meaning to set something up, or (in computing) to duplicate output to two destinations.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tee off
tee up
tee shot
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Word forms
- Plural
- tees
- Third person singular
- tees
- Past tense
- teed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He placed the ball on the _____ and took a practice swing.
Etymology
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tee
See all rhymes for tee →Frequently asked questions
What does “tee” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “tee”?
“Tee” is pronounced TEE (/ˈtiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “tee” in a sentence?
Here is “tee” used in a sentence: “He placed the ball on the tee and took a practice swing.”
What part of speech is “tee”?
Depending on how it is used, “tee” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tee” come from?
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.
Is “tee” a common word?
“Tee” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tee” have?
“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.
What is the difference between a tee and a tee shot in golf?
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.
What does it mean to 'tee something up' outside of golf?
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.'
What does tee mean in plumbing or electronics?
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.
