tête-à-tête

[ teyt-uh-teyt, tet-uh-tet; French te-ta-tet ]
/ ˈteɪt əˈteɪt, ˈtɛt əˈtɛt; French tɛ taˈtɛt /

noun, plural tête-à-têtes, French tête-à-tête.

a private conversation or interview, usually between two people.
Also called vis-à-vis. a sofa shaped like an S so two people are able to converse face to face.

adjective

of, between, or for two persons together without others.

adverb

(of two persons) together in private: to sit tête-à-tête.

Origin of tête-à-tête

1690–1700; < French: literally, head to head

Example sentences from the Web for tete-a-tete

British Dictionary definitions for tete-a-tete

tête-à-tête
/ (ˌteɪtəˈteɪt) /

noun plural -têtes or -tête

  1. a private conversation between two people
  2. (as modifier)a tête-à-tête conversation
a small sofa for two people, esp one that is S-shaped in plan so that the sitters are almost face to face

adverb

intimately; in private

Word Origin for tête-à-tête

C17: from French, literally: head to head

Cultural definitions for tete-a-tete

tête-à-tête
[ (tayt-uh-tayt) ]

An intimate meeting or conversation between two individuals. From French, meaning “head to head.”