tee

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

wearing a cotton tee

4

: a mark aimed at in various games (such as curling)

see also to a tee

tee

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a small mound or a peg on which a golf ball is placed before being struck at the beginning of play on a hole

b

: a device for holding a football in position for kicking

c

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck at the beginning of play on a hole

tee

3 of 3

verb

teed; teeing

transitive verb

: to place (a ball) on a tee

—often used with up

Examples of tee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Caslon Cotton and Modal T-shirt A plain white tee is the quiet workhorse of any travel wardrobe, and this Caslon cotton and modal T-shirt earns its spot. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

At the club, Davenport liked to station himself near the first tee, talking to members, arranging their golf games and remembering who golfers liked (and didn’t like) to play with. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026

Verb

But mostly, Hill loves to tee it up himself. —Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026

Recent Florida Ring of Honor and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Urban Meyer is also scheduled to tee it up. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1646, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tee

• ringer tee
• tee ball
• tee-hee
• tee off
• tee off on (someone or something)
• tee shirt
• tee shot
• tee time
• tee up
• wind tee

Rhymes for tee

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

Kids Definition

tee

1 of 3 noun

ˈtē 

1

: the letter t

2

: something shaped like a capital T

3

informal : t-shirt

tee

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a small peg on which a golf ball is set to be struck

b

: an adjustable post on which a ball is placed for batting (as in T-ball)

2

: the area from which a golf ball is struck in starting play on a hole

tee

3 of 3 verb

teed; teeing

: to place on a tee

teed up the ball