tease Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)
vexer; teaser; annoyer.
noun a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
minx; prickteaser; vamper; coquette; flirt; vamp.
noun the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
teasing; tantalization; ribbing.
- he ignored their teases
- his ribbing was gentle but persistent
verb annoy persistently
badger; beleaguer; pester; bug.
- The children teased the boy because of his stammer
verb harass with persistent criticism or carping
rag; razz; bait; tantalize; twit; taunt; ride; cod; rally; tantalise.
- The children teased the new teacher
- Don't ride me so hard over my failure
- His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie
verb to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them
- The advertisement is intended to tease the customers
- She has a way of teasing men with her flirtatious behavior
verb tear into pieces
- tease tissue for microscopic examinations
verb raise the nap of (fabrics)
verb disentangle and raise the fibers of
loosen; tease apart.
- tease wool
verb separate the fibers of
card.
- tease wool
verb mock or make fun of playfully
- the flirting man teased the young woman
verb ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect
fluff.

AS. tsan to pluck, tease; akin to OD. teesen, MHG. zeisen, Dan. tæse, tæsse. *58. Cf. Touse.

imperfect & past participle Teased ; present participle & verbal noun Teasing

To comb or card, as wool or flax. "Teasing matted wool." Wordsworth.
To stratch, as cloth, for the purpose of raising a nap; teasel.
(Anat.) To tear or separate into minute shreds, as with needles or similar instruments.
To vex with importunity or impertinence; to harass, annoy, disturb, or irritate by petty requests, or by jests and raillery; to plague. Cowper.
He . . . suffered them to tease him into acts directly opposed to his strongest inclinations. Macaulay.
Syn. -- To vex; harass: annoy; disturb; irritate; plague; torment; mortify; tantalize; chagrin. -- Tease, Vex. To tease is literally to pull or scratch, and implies a prolonged annoyance in respect to little things, which is often more irritating, and harder to bear, than severe pain. Vex meant originally to seize and bear away hither and thither, and hence, to disturb; as, to vex the ocean with storms. This sense of the term now rarely occurs; but vex is still a stronger word than tease, denoting the disturbance or anger created by minor provocations, losses, disappointments, etc. We are teased by the buzzing of a fly in our eyes; we are vexed by the carelessness or stupidity of our servants.
Not by the force of carnal reason, But indefatigable teasing. Hudibras.

In disappointments, where the affections have been strongly placed, and the expectations sanguine, particularly where the agency of others is concerned, sorrow may degenerate into vexation and chagrin. Cogan.