noun
chai
CHY/tʃaɪ/
Tea, especially tea prepared with milk and spices.
The steaming chai combines milk with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon.
Etymology
Mandarin ch'a means tea generally. English chai likewise first meant tea, but became especially associated with spiced teas, giving the word its more specialized modern sense.
More examples
- The cafe serves a fragrant chai.
- He warms his hands around a mug of chai.
- The kitchen smells of ginger from the simmering chai.
Similar words
- tea
- The broader English term, without implying milk or spices.
- masala chai
- Specifically spiced tea rather than all uses of chai.