teat

IPA/tiːt/
KK[tˈit]IPA/tiːt/

teat — noun

  • teatsingular
  • teatsplural

1. one of the small, nipple-shaped parts on the underside of a female mammal, such

1.nounB2
Definition

one of the small, nipple-shaped parts on the underside of a female mammal, such as a cow or a dog, from which her young drink milk

Example

The calf pushed its nose against the cow, seeking a teat to feed from.

collocation: feed from a teat

Farmer Emre gently cleaned each teat of the goat before attaching the milking machine.

possessive + teat

Common collocations
  • feed from a teat
  • suckle at a teat
  • clean a teat
  • each teat
  • teat of a cow
Synonyms
  • nipple

    used for humans, not animals — same physical structure but different word in everyday English

  • udder

    the whole milk-producing organ of an animal, containing several teats; not a synonym for a single teat

Grammar Patterns

possessive + teat

teat + of + animal

Usage Note

In everyday English, 'nipple' is used for humans and 'teat' for non-human mammals, especially farm animals. The whole milk-containing bag of a cow or goat is called the 'udder'.

Common Mistakes

The mother gently gave the baby her teat.
The mother gently gave the baby her nipple.
'teat' is for animals, not humans; use 'nipple' for human breastfeeding.

2. a soft, flexible tip that goes on a baby's bottle and allows the baby to draw mi

2.nounB1
Definition

a soft, flexible tip that goes on a baby's bottle and allows the baby to draw milk out by pressing with the tongue and lips

Example

Yael warmed the milk and screwed the teat onto the baby's bottle.

collocation: screw/put a teat onto a bottle

Hugo tested the milk temperature on his wrist before giving the teat to his daughter.

Common collocations
  • screw a teat onto a bottle
  • boil a teat
  • slow-flow teat
  • silicone teat
  • teat size
Synonyms
  • bottle nipple

    American English term for the same object; 'nipple' alone is also used in the US

  • feeding teat

    more specific term sometimes used to distinguish from a pacifier teat

Grammar Patterns

teat + on + bottle

Usage Note

This sense is the standard word in British English. In American English, the same object is usually called a 'bottle nipple' or simply 'nipple'.

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a new teat for the baby to suck on for comfort.' (when meaning pacifier)
I need to buy a new dummy for the baby to suck on for comfort.
a 'teat' is for feeding from a bottle; a 'dummy' (UK) or 'pacifier' (US) is for comforting.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Teat' (British English) and 'bottle nipple' (American English) refer to the same object — the rubber or silicone part on a feeding bottle. 'Nipple' alone is used in the US for both the human body part and the bottle attachment, which can cause confusion. A 'dummy' (UK) or 'pacifier' (US) is a different object: it is not used for feeding but for soothing a baby to suck on. 'Teat' can also appear in 'dummy teat' to describe the sucking part of a pacifier. For learners, using 'teat' for the bottle part and 'dummy' for the soothing device will sound natural in British contexts, while in the US 'bottle nipple' and 'pacifier' are the clear choices.

teat ↗bottle nipplenipple ↗dummy ↗pacifier ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • rubber teat
  • silicone teat
  • slow-flow teat
  • cow teat

Phrases

  • put a teat on
  • screw a teat onto

Prepositions

  • on a bottle
  • of a cow
  • from a teat

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The word 'teat' comes from Old English 'titt', which meant 'nipple' or 'breast'. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'tiet' and German 'Zitze'. The spelling changed over time, but the connection to breastfeeding and milk has stayed the same for more than a thousand years.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1