tease

[teez]

See more synonyms for tease on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), teased, teas·ing.

to irritate or provoke with persistent petty distractions, trifling raillery, or other annoyance, often in sport.
to pull apart or separate the adhering fibers of (wool or the like), as in combing or carding; comb or card, as wool; shred.
to ruffle (the hair) by holding it at the ends and combing toward the scalp so as to give body to a hairdo.

to raise a nap on (cloth) with teasels; teasel.
Also teaser. Television Slang. a short scene or highlight shown at the beginning of a film or television show to attract the audience's attention.

verb (used without object), teased, teas·ing.

to provoke or disturb a person or animal by importunity or persistent petty annoyances.

noun

a person who teases or annoys.
the act of teasing or the state of being teased.

Origin of tease

before 1000; Middle English tesen (v.), Old English tǣsan to pull, tear, comb; cognate with Middle Low German tesen, Old High German zeisan to pluck

Related formsteas·a·ble, adjectiveteas·a·ble·ness, nounteas·ing·ly, adverbout·tease, verb (used with object), out·teased, out·teas·ing.un·teased, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for tease on Thesaurus.com

1. trouble, disturb, vex; harass.

Synonym study

1. See bother.

Antonyms

1. mollify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for teasingly

Contemporary Examples

The Dukes of Hazzard were masters of button-popped shirts, teasingly open.
Jude Law and the Great Male ‘He-Vage’ Crisis
Tim Teeman
May 20, 2014
They exchanged long hugs, kidded each other, teasingly pulled rank, and shouted “hooah,” the warrior expression of approval.
Black Hawk Down’s Long Shadow
Daniel Klaidman
October 9, 2013
Her husband, director of corporate wholesale for an automotive group, teasingly calls her crazy, but supports her fully.
Meet Mariann From Brooklyn, Howard Stern’s Biggest Fan
Kevin Fallon
February 28, 2013
It's No 'Schmoopie' Barack teasingly calls Michelle “Flotus”—her official acronym (first lady of the United States).
The Obamas' More Perfect Union
The Daily Beast
October 29, 2009
In fact, it teasingly suggests that Vanderbilt's a real softie.
Gloria Vanderbilt Gets Kinky
Megan Hustad
June 23, 2009

Historical Examples

Yesterday she had teasingly boasted to Katherine that Austin was in love with her.
Viviette
William J. Locke
"You talk like a veritable schoolmaster," laughed Mrs. Allan, teasingly.
Highacres
Jane Abbott
But I chose to take it otherwise, teasingly, because we were often like a pair of children.
The Arrow of Gold
Joseph Conrad
"I think you kind of liked that fellow," said Roscoe teasingly.
Tom Slade with the Colors
Percy K. Fitzhugh
"Ted is afraid that Madame will make her toe the mark," Hubert said teasingly.
Teddy: Her Book
Anna Chapin Ray

British Dictionary definitions for teasingly

tease

verb

to annoy (someone) by deliberately offering something with the intention of delaying or withdrawing the offer
to arouse sexual desire in (someone) with no intention of satisfying it
to vex (someone) maliciously or playfully, esp by ridicule
(tr) to separate the fibres of; comb; card
(tr) to raise the nap of (a fabric) with a teasel
Also: backcomb US and Canadian to comb the under layers of (the hair) towards the roots to give more bulk to a hairstyle
(tr) to loosen or pull apart (biological tissues, etc) by delicate agitation or prodding with an instrument

noun

a person or thing that teases
the act of teasing

Word Origin

Old English tǣsan; related to Old High German zeisan to pick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for teasingly

tease

n.

"one who teases," 1852, from tease (v.). Specifically as short for cock-teaser, it was in use by 1976.

tease

v.

Old English tæsan "pluck, pull apart" (fibers of wool, flax, etc.), from West Germanic *taisijanan (cf. Danish tæse, Middle Dutch tesen, Dutch tezen "to draw, pull, scratch," Old High German zeisan "to tease, pick wool").

The original sense is of running thorns through wool or flax to separate, shred, or card the fibers. The figurative sense of "vex, worry, annoy" emerged 1610s. For similar sense development, see heckle. Hairdressing sense is recorded from 1957.

teasingly in Medicine

tease

(tēz)

To separate the structural parts of a tissue, as with a needle, in order to prepare it for microscopic examination.

tease

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Synonyms

Synonym study

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for teasingly

Contemporary Examples

The Dukes of Hazzard were masters of button-popped shirts, teasingly open.

They exchanged long hugs, kidded each other, teasingly pulled rank, and shouted “hooah,” the warrior expression of approval.

Her husband, director of corporate wholesale for an automotive group, teasingly calls her crazy, but supports her fully.

It's No 'Schmoopie' Barack teasingly calls Michelle “Flotus”—her official acronym (first lady of the United States).

In fact, it teasingly suggests that Vanderbilt's a real softie.

Historical Examples

Yesterday she had teasingly boasted to Katherine that Austin was in love with her.

"You talk like a veritable schoolmaster," laughed Mrs. Allan, teasingly.

But I chose to take it otherwise, teasingly, because we were often like a pair of children.

"I think you kind of liked that fellow," said Roscoe teasingly.

"Ted is afraid that Madame will make her toe the mark," Hubert said teasingly.

tease

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for teasingly

tease

n.

tease

v.

tease

Origin of tease