tea-kettle
Definition
Noun: A "tea-kettle" is a container, typically made of metal, with a handle, spout, and lid, used for boiling water specifically for making tea.
Usage Examples
- (A container for boiling water for tea.)
- (The sound indicates the water is ready for tea.)
Advanced Usage
"to put the tea-kettle on": to begin boiling water for tea.
- As soon as guests arrived, she put the tea-kettle on. (She started the process of making tea.)
"a whistling tea-kettle": a tea-kettle designed to emit a whistle when the water boils.
- He prefers a whistling tea-kettle because it alerts him when the water is ready. (A tea-kettle with a built-in whistle.)
Variants and Related Words
Teapot (n): a container with a spout, handle, and lid, used for brewing and serving tea (distinct from a tea-kettle, which boils water).
- After the water boiled in the tea-kettle, she poured it into the teapot. (The teapot holds the brewed tea.)
Kettle (n): a general term for a container used to boil water, not exclusively for tea.
- The electric kettle is faster than a stove-top tea-kettle. (A broader category.)
Synonyms
- Boiling vessel: a container used for heating liquids to boiling point.
- Water boiler: a device or container for heating water.
Related Idioms
- "a watched kettle never boils": a proverb meaning that time feels longer when you are waiting for something.
- Don't keep staring at the tea-kettle; a watched kettle never boils. (Waiting impatiently makes it seem slower.)
Notes on Usage
- The term "tea-kettle" is often hyphenated and is more specific than "kettle," as it implies a primary purpose of boiling water for tea. In modern usage, "kettle" is commonly used interchangeably.