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REFERENCE

cha

n. · part.
US //ˈtʃɑ// UK //tʃˈɑː// cha
  1. 1 tea (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informal

    an informal word for tea, often used in British English or to refer to spiced Indian tea.

    a colloquial term for tea, derived from the Chinese 'chá'; frequently used in British military or working-class contexts and as a synonym for masala chai.

    Example

    After a long day of hiking, nothing beats a hot cup of cha by the fire.

    Example

    The sergeant major insisted on a quick break for a cup of cha before the company resumed their drills in the midday heat.
  2. 2 dance steps (part.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    a word used to count the rhythm in Latin dances like the cha-cha-cha.

    a rhythmic particle used to mark the syncopated steps in Latin American ballroom dances, specifically the cha-cha-cha.

    Example

    The instructor shouted 'one, two, cha-cha-cha' to help the students keep the beat.

    Example

    The dancers executed the triple-step sequence with precision, their hips swaying in perfect time to the 'cha-cha-cha' rhythm of the mambo.

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Last updated June 20, 2026