¹tease

transitive verb \ˈtēz\

: to laugh at and criticize (someone) in a way that is either friendly and playful or cruel and unkind

: to annoy or bother (an animal)

: to make (hair) look fuller or bigger by combing it in a special way

teasedteas·ing

Full Definition of TEASE

a : to disentangle and lay parallel by combing or carding <tease wool>

b : teasel

: to tear in pieces; especially : to shred (a tissue or specimen) for microscopic examination

a : to disturb or annoy by persistent irritating or provoking especially in a petty or mischievous way

b : to annoy with petty persistent requests : pester; also : to obtain by repeated coaxing

c : to persuade to acquiesce especially by persistent small efforts : coax

d : to manipulate or influence as if by teasing

e : to make fun of : kid

: to comb (hair) by taking hold of a strand and pushing the short hairs toward the scalp with the comb

: to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it

— teas·ing·ly \ˈtē-ziŋ-lē\ adverb

See tease defined for kids

Origin of TEASE

Middle English tesen, from Old English tǣsan; akin to Old High German zeisan to tease

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TEASE

Synonyms: chaff, jive, joke, josh, kid, rally, razz, rib, ride, roast, goof on [slang], take the mickey out of [British], make game of, pick on

Synonym Discussion of TEASE

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts. worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation <pursued a policy of worrying the enemy>. annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks <you're doing that just to annoy me>. harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power <harassed on all sides by creditors>. harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment <the strikers had been harried by thugs>. plague implies a painful and persistent affliction <plagued all her life by poverty>. pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks <constantly pestered with trivial complaints>. tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath <children teased the dog>.

Rhymes with TEASE

breeze, cheese, ease, feeze, freeze, frieze, jeez, lees, please, res, seize, sneeze, squeeze, tweeze, wheeze

²tease

noun

: a person who teases other people; especially : a person who seems to be sexually interested in someone but who is not serious about having sexual relations

: a joking remark that criticizes someone in a friendly way : a teasing remark