Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small peg or stand: A device, often made of wood or plastic, placed into the ground to support a golf ball in a raised position before it is struck.
   • A support for a football: A stand that holds an American football upright and above the ground in preparation for a kickoff.
   • The designated starting area: The area on a golf course from which play begins for each hole.

2. Verb:

   • To place on a tee: To position a golf ball on a tee in preparation for driving it.
   • To connect with a tee: To join two pipes or other cylindrical objects using a fitting shaped like the letter "T".

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He placed his ball on the tee and prepared to drive.
  • The kicker adjusted the ball on the kicking tee.
  • Our next group is on the third tee.

• Verb:

  • Please tee your ball before hitting.
  • The plumber will tee the new pipe into the existing line.

Advanced Usage

• "To tee off": To hit a golf ball from a tee at the start of play for a hole. This phrasal verb is also used informally to mean "to begin" or "to start something".

  • We will tee off at 9 AM.
  • The manager teed off the meeting with a brief announcement.

• "To be/stand at the tee": To be at the starting point, ready to begin.

  • The players stood at the tee, waiting for the group ahead to clear.

Variants and Related Words

• Tee box (n): The area containing the tee from which play begins on a golf hole.

  • Please keep your cart behind the tee box.

• Tee time (n): A reserved time for starting a round of golf.

  • Our tee time is scheduled for 10:15.

• Tee shot (n): The first stroke played from the tee on a golf hole.

  • He hit a perfect tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

Synonyms

• Peg (n): A small pin or bolt (specifically for the golf object).
• Stand (n): A support or base.
• Starting point (n): The place where something begins.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Tee up:
  • To place a ball on a tee.

    • He teed up the ball carefully.
  • To prepare or set something up for action.

    • The committee teed up the proposal for the board's review.

Related Idioms

• "To a tee": Perfectly, exactly, or precisely. (Note: This idiom uses the letter 'T', not the golf object).
  • The suit fit him to a tee.
  • She followed the instructions to a tee.

Noun

1. a short peg put into the ground to hold a golf ball off the ground
2. support holding a football on end and above the ground preparatory to the kickoff
3. the starting place for each hole on a golf course
   • they were waiting on the first tee

Verb

1. connect with a tee
   • tee two pipes
2. place on a tee
   • tee golf balls