tea
noun
tiː 
tiː 
1 [uncountable] the dried leaves (called tea leaves) of the tea bush see also green tea2 [uncountable] a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto tea leaves. It may be drunk with milk or lemon and/or sugar addeda cup/mug/pot of tealemon/iced teaWould you like tea or coffee?Do you take sugar in your tea?3 [countable] a cup of teaTwo teas, please.4 [uncountable, countable] a hot drink made by pouring boiling water onto the leaves of other plantscamomile/mint/herb, etc. tea see also beef tea5 [uncountable, countable] the name used by some people in Britain for the cooked meal eaten in the evening, especially when it is eaten early in the eveningYou can have your tea as soon as you come home from school. compare dinner, supper6 [uncountable, countable] (British English) a light meal eaten in the afternoon or early evening, usually with sandwiches and/or biscuits and cakes and with tea to drinkIdioms
not for all the tea in China
(old-fashioned) not even for a great rewardI wouldn't do your job. Not for all the tea in China!
Usage note: mealsPeople use the words dinner, lunch, supper and tea in different ways depending on which English-speaking country they come from. In Britain it may also depend on which part of the country or which social class a person comes from.A meal eaten in the middle of the day is usually called lunch. If it is the main meal of the day it may also be called dinner in British English, especially in the north of the country.A main meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner, especially if it is a formal meal. Supper is also an evening meal, but more informal than dinner and usually eaten at home. It can also be a late meal or something to eat and drink before going to bed.In British English, tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cakes, etc. and a cup of tea: a cream tea. It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children: What time do the kids have their tea?As a general rule, if dinner is the word someone uses for the meal in the middle of the day, they probably call the meal in the evening tea or supper. If they call the meal in the middle of the day lunch, they probably call the meal in the evening dinner.Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch, is becoming more common, especially as a meal where your guests serve themselves.