teacup

noun

tea·​cup ˈtē-ˌkəp 

: a small cup usually with a handle used with a saucer for hot beverages

teacupful

ˈtē-ˌkəp-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of teacup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a giant teacup — stripped down to primer gray — in the spray paint bay waiting for its new coats. — Carole Horst, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Without changing position, Shoichiro took the teacup from his father. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Someone should know who verifies the image, who speaks for the company, who explains what happened, who fixes the process that failed, and who keeps the organization from turning a teacup storm into a bathtub flood. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The general reaction to the policy has been overwhelmingly positive, Xue said, aside from some remarks on social media that charging for a smashed teacup was a petty move. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing teacup

• a storm in a teacup

Rhymes for teacup

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

teacup

noun

tea·​cup ˈtē-ˌkəp 

: a small cup used with a saucer for hot beverages