afternoon tea

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afternoon tea (countable and uncountable, plural afternoon teas)

1. (Britain) A formal afternoon meal comprising light snacks, accompanied by tea.
   • 2007, Andrea Broomfield, Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A History‎, page 59:

     As with luncheon, afternoon tea was often a women's gathering for reasons that take us back to the reign of Charles II.

   • 2010, Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince, Frommer's England 2011: With Wales‎, page 165:

     Everyone should indulge in a formal afternoon tea at least once while in London. This relaxing, drawn-out, civilized affair consists of three courses, all elegantly served on fine china: dainty finger sandwiches (with the crusts cut off, of course); then fresh-baked scones served with jam and deliciously decadent clotted cream (the rich, thick cream is also known as Devonshire cream); and lastly, an array of bite-size sweets. All the while, an indulgent server keeps the pot of your choice fresh at hand.

   • 2010, Rick Steves, Rick Steves′ England 2011‎, page 179:

     At all the places listed below, it's perfectly acceptable to order one afternoon tea and one cream tea (at about £5) and split the afternoon tea goodies.

   • 2011, Darwin Porter, Frommer's Bahamas 2012‎, page 67:

     The British tradition of afternoon tea is still observed on the last Friday of each month, from January to August, at the hilltop mansion of the governor-general in Nassau.

2. (Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong) A small meal or snack eaten between lunch and dinner (supper); a period of time set aside for this purpose, taken as a break from work or from a conference.
   • 1993, AUUGN‎, page 53:

     After afternoon tea we all combine again for a plenary session, followed by the UniForum NZ AGM.

   • 1995, David Marshall, Food Choice and the Consumer‎, page 270:

     In looking at meal structures, Douglas (1972) made a clear distinction between the afternoon tea which is a snack and the high tea which is classified as a light meal.

• tea, high tea, teatime; see also Thesaurus:meal

• morning tea