tea tree

noun

1

: any of various Australasian shrubs or small trees (genus Leptospermum) of the myrtle family that form dense thickets and have aromatic evergreen foliage

2

: any of various melaleucas (especially Melaleuca alternifolia) with aromatic leaves that yield an essential oil used especially as an antiseptic

Examples of tea tree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Essential Oils Essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, citronella, lavender, and eucalyptus all have very strong scents and can act much like cinnamon to disrupt pheromone trails. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026

Several essential oils can be toxic to animals, particularly cats, who lack the liver enzymes needed to process certain compounds found in oils such as tea tree and peppermint. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026

In conjunction with a relaxing lavender and tea tree scent, there’s also a botanical blend of fumaria tea and swertia japonica extract to soothe irritation, boost circulation, and promote a healthier scalp environment. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026

So the addition of tea tree oil and mint, which notably can relieve dryness and itch while improving overall scalp health, rounds out the formula to help deliver those hair-thickening results. —Erika Reals, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the use of an infusion of their leaves as a beverage

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tea tree

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he