coffee

roasted coffee beans

Meanings

Noun

  • A beverage made by infusing the beans of the coffee plant in hot water.
  • A serving of this beverage.
  • The seeds of the plant used to make coffee, misnamed ‘beans’ due to their shape.
  • The powder made by roasting and grinding the seeds.
  • A tropical plant of the genus Coffea.
  • A pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee.
  • The end of a meal, when coffee is served.

Adjective

  • Of a pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee.
  • Of a table: a small, low table suitable for people in lounge seating to put coffee cups on.

Verb

  • To drink coffee.

Origin

  • From Dutch koffie , from Ottoman Turkish قهوه ("coffee"), from Arabic قَهْوَة ("coffee, a brew"). The Arabic word originally referred to wine, a drink which was traditionally mixed and served hot in a similar manner. In Arabic "to brew" utilizes the same triliteral root as wine and intoxicant; see to cover over, presumably with hot water. Other sources instead claim it traces back to the name of the Kaffa region of Ethiopia, which is an word. café, and caffè.

Modern English dictionary

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