HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

tee¹

(tē)

1. The letter t.

2. Something shaped like a T.

3. Informal A T-shirt.

4. Sports & Games A mark aimed at in certain games, such as curling or quoits.

Idiom:

to a tee

Perfectly; exactly: a plan that suits me to a tee.

tee²

(tē)

1. A small peg with a concave top for holding a golf ball for an initial drive.

2. The designated area of each golf hole from which a player makes the first stroke.

3. A device used to stand a football on end for a kickoff.

4. A shaft with a concave top attached to a flat base, used to hold the ball in T-ball.

tr.v. teed, tee·ing, tees

To place (a ball) on a tee. Often used with up.

Phrasal Verb:

tee off

1. To drive a golf ball from the tee.

2. Slang To start or begin: They teed off the fundraising campaign with a dinner.

3. Slang To make angry or disgusted: The impertinent remarks teed the speaker off.

[Back-formation from obsolete Scots teaz (taken as a pl.).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products