teat

noun \ ˈtit , ˈtēt \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of teat

1 : the protuberance through which milk is drawn from an udder or breast : nipple

2 : a small projection or a nib (as on a mechanical part)

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teated

play \ˈti-təd, ˈtē-\ adjective

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Recent Examples of teat from the Web

Hold it in the non-milking hand, and, with the active hand, this: Index finger and thumb two inches above the teat, gripping it like a nipple.

— jeanette winterson, The New Yorker, "Anyone Can Milk a Rubber Glove," 4 June 2017
The unflappable Luke Skywalker, formerly a shimmering, golden Jedi, has become an aged, crotchety beard-o who drinks green sludge from the teat of a space aardvark.

— steve heisler, Chicago Reader, "Archive Dive / Arts / Film May the fourth be with you, even if the Reader's critics rarely become one with the force," 4 May 2018
The lucky ones latch onto the teat and stay attached for up to 3 months.

— cheryl conley, Houston Chronicle, "Totally awesome opossum help us fight bugs, snakes," 20 Mar. 2018
The babies make their way to mama's pouch where only 13 teats are available.

— cheryl conley, Houston Chronicle, "Totally awesome opossum help us fight bugs, snakes," 20 Mar. 2018
For an elephant, keepers had to trick a nursing mother into letting them stimulate one of her teats.

— serena solomon, New York Times, "Saving Koalas, and Other Marsupials, With Milk Almost as Good as Mom’s," 24 Feb. 2018
The 27-year-old full-back escaped unhurt but is said to have failed a breathalyzer teat after the 5.30am crash in the streets of the Italian capital.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Roma drop, fine Bruno Peres after car carsh," 10 Feb. 2018
The dog’s teats are full and four puppies stay close by.

— sarah fowler, The Seattle Times, "$10K donated to woman living in poverty, collapsing home," 19 Jan. 2018
The latest films, released Thursday, appear to show workers using blowtorches to sear off the hairs of the cows’ udders to sanitize teats before milking, and PVC piping affixed with knife-like protrusions to prod the animals.

— anne geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "3 arrested as videos of alleged cow torture emerge at another Florida dairy," 15 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'teat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of teat

Middle English tete, in part from Old English tit; in part from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English tit teat, Middle High German zitze

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year