ˈtea-ˈrose, tea rose
a. A variety (or group of varieties) of cultivated rose, derived from the species Rosa indica, var. odorata, having flowers of a pale yellow colour, with a delicate scent supposed to resemble that of tea. Originally, tea-scented rose.
| 1850 Florist Aug. 191 The delicate and odorous Tea Rose fated to be admired and to languish in the drawing-room. 1882 Garden 11 Mar., Tea Roses may be pruned in April. |
b. The colour of this rose. Also attrib.
| 1872 Young Englishwoman Nov. 599/1 The rose colours are rose frais..; tea-rose, with yellow tints; and faded rose. 1884 Chr. World Fam. Circle 4 Nov. 260/4 Amongst the favourite colours are imperial yellow, Nile blue, tea rose and cardinal. 1900 St. James' Gaz. 21 Sept. 6/2 A bolero of tea-rose silk. |
c. A perfume made from or named after this rose.
| 1897 Sears. Roebuck Catal. 19/2 Perfumes..Sweet Pea..Tea Rose..Tuberose. 1926–7 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 486/2 Atkinsons' Perfumes..Sweet Pea, Tea Rose, Verbena. 1977 New Yorker 10 Oct. 35/3 She..ended with a commercial for her new fragrance, Tea Rose, samples of which her assistants passed around. |