teen

Everyday

1. (informal) A teenager, a person aged 13 to 19. tree →
2. (adjective) For or about teenagers: a teen magazine. tree →
3. In your teens: aged between 13 and 19. tree →
4. -teen: the ending of numbers 13 to 19, meaning «and ten». tree →

In the lessons

In maths, -teen numbers (thirteen to nineteen) are ten plus a number; pupils learn not to confuse thirteen (13) with thirty (30) by listening for the stress. In everyday life, teen is a short word for teenager. Phrases: in her teens, early teens, teen years.

Examples

• My sister is a teen now, she's 14. tree →
• The library has a teen section. tree →
• Grandpa started work in his teens. tree →
• Fifteen is a teen number: 10 + 5. tree →
• The film is not suitable for young teens. tree →
• Thirteen is the first teen number. tree →

Note

Teen is informal for teenager. Listen for the stress: thir-TEEN (13) versus THIR-ty (30). In maths, a -teen number = 10 + the first part (fourteen = 10 + 4); eleven and twelve are not teen numbers.