teaser

[ tee-zer ]

noun

1. a person or thing that teases.
2. an advertisement that lures customers or clients by offering a bonus, gift, or the like.
3. 1. Television. Also called tease,. a short, impressionistic image, promotional video, or audio spot that reveals very little about the product or company being advertised and is presented to generate interest in advance of the primary advertising campaign.
   2. Movies. Also called teaser trailer,. a short, edited promotional video to generate interest in an upcoming film and announce its release date: a teaser is a forerunner to full-length trailers for the film that feature highlights and are shown closer to the film’s distribution date.
   3. Television. Also called bumper tease. bumper ¹( def 9a ).
4. Informal. tease ( def 10 ).
5. Theater. a drapery or flat piece across the top of the proscenium arch that masks the flies and that, together with the tormentors, forms a frame for the stage opening.
6. Printing, Journalism. kicker ( def 9 ).

teaser

/ ˈtiːzə /

noun

1. a person who teases
2. a preliminary advertisement in a campaign that attracts attention by making people curious to know what product is being advertised
3. a difficult question
4. vet science a vasectomized male animal, such as an ox, used to detect oestrus in females

Word History and Origins

Origin of teaser¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English teser “machine for teasing wool”; tease, -er ¹

Example Sentences

It begs the question of who gets to determine the threshold of a teaser and how do publishers balance giving away content for free over Web Stories while encouraging engagement on their owned properties.

From Search Engine Land

Cheetos just put out a suspenseful teaser starring Ashton Kutcher, but not much more is happening.

From Digiday

For the time being, the company shared a 30-second teaser video featuring the opening notes of John Williams' Raiders March and a ticking clock over a pan across a cluttered desk.

From Ars Technica

It was announced with a teaser trailer during last night's Game Awards broadcast.

From Ars Technica

Journalists can focus on writing rich stories that will attract readers, adding a teaser up top or going long on a particularly compelling story.

From Digiday

None, however, have been as all-out cute as this one, a shot-for-shot remake of the teaser with dogs and cats.

From The Daily Beast

Hackers have leaked the clip as a teaser for a full sex tape, which they claim will be released online soon.

From The Daily Beast

In what looks like a “teaser” for more rants to come, John Cantlie speaks to the camera and continues to live, at least for now.

From The Daily Beast

On Thursday Sledgehammer games released a teaser for the “new era” of Call of Duty, which is set for release this November.

From The Daily Beast

The news went public when a teaser shot of the brand's Spring/Summer 2014 campaign was posted to Instagram on Friday.

From The Daily Beast

"Wherever the Teaser may be waiting her chance, this is a good night for a start," replied Mr. Dashington.

From Project Gutenberg

The only point that was strongly impressed upon his mind by the captain was that the Teaser must be captured.

From Project Gutenberg

The Teaser don't draw much water, and I know how to help her over the shoal places.

From Project Gutenberg

I wish they would come on board of the Teaser and help me out, for my men won't work.

From Project Gutenberg

Captain Folkner of the Teaser was evidently somewhat timid, and he had heard of the arrival of the Bellevite.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conundrum
• enigma
• problem
• question
• riddle
• secrecy
• subtlety
• thriller