tea leaf paradox

proper noun

The phenomenon whereby tea leaves in a cup of tea migrate to the center and bottom of the cup after being stirred (due to friction towards the bottom), rather than being forced to the edges, as would be expected in a spiral centrifuge.

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Meanings

proper nounthe tea leaf paradox
  1. fluid dynamicsThe phenomenon whereby tea leaves in a cup of tea migrate to the center and bottom of the cup after being stirred (due to friction towards the bottom), rather than being forced to the edges, as would be expected in a spiral centrifuge.
Cite this entry
APA

tea leaf paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tea%20leaf%20paradox

MLA

“tea leaf paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tea%20leaf%20paradox. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tea leaf paradox,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tea%20leaf%20paradox.

Source: tea leaf paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.