tease

[ teez ]

/ tiz /

See synonyms for: tease / teased / teasing on Thesaurus.com

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

to irritate or provoke with persistent petty distractions, trifling jests, or other annoyances, often playfully: If your little sister is teasing you about your boyfriend and following you around making kissy faces, it’s because she’s jealous and she wants your attention.

to bully, harass, or torment: I was teased about my lisp when I was younger.New animals are kept isolated when they first arrive at the sanctuary to prevent the established pack from teasing or frightening them.

Informal. to purposely excite or sexually arouse (someone) without subsequent gratification: Don’t tease me with vacation ideas you know we can’t afford!The bride-to-be teased her fiancé with a sexy little dance even though she knew they couldn’t go all the way with a house full of wedding guests.

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.

to introduce (a new product) without revealing details about it, conveying only that the product exists and will be available at a future date: Both developers teased next generation game consoles at the expo, but neither released specs.

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

to provoke, disturb, torment, or bully a person or animal with persistent annoyances or harassment.

noun

a person who teases or annoys.

Informal. a person who purposely excites or sexually arouses another, but then withholds gratification: The weatherman needs to stop being such a tease with these predicted snow days.All I did was set some sexual boundaries, but now he's spreading rumors that I'm a tease.

the act of teasing or the state of being teased.

Slang. teaser (def. 5a).

SYNONYMS FOR tease

1 trouble, disturb, vex; harass.

See synonyms for tease on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR tease

1 mollify.

See antonyms for tease on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of tease

First recorded before 1000; Middle English tesen (verb), Old English tǣsan “to pull, tear, comb”; cognate with Middle Low German tesen, Old High German zeisan “to pluck”

synonym study for tease

1. See bother.

OTHER WORDS FROM tease

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

un·teased, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for tease

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

In fact, it teasingly suggests that Vanderbilt's a real softie.
Gloria Vanderbilt Gets Kinky|Megan Hustad|June 23, 2009|DAILY BEAST
"I haven't a doubt but that some one will try to if you don't treat him better," Mary Lee said teasingly.
The Four Corners in Japan|Amy Ella Blanchard
"Why, the person named in the letter you brought, of course," said Friar Mathieu teasingly.
The Saracen: The Holy War|Robert Shea
She burst out laughing, teasingly reminded me of my former railings against prejudice, and in the end I joined in her laughter.
The Confession of a Fool|August Strindberg
“You should know what goes on there,” laughed Katharine, teasingly.
The Mystery of Arnold Hall|Helen M. Persons
"You won't be able to find your way to Lincoln's Inn by yourself," said Tom teasingly.
Miss Merivale's Mistake|Mrs. Henry Clarke

British Dictionary definitions for tease

tease

/ (tiːz) /

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

Derived forms of tease

teasing, adjectiveteasingly, adverb

Word Origin for tease

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

Medical definitions for tease

tease

[ tēz ]

v.

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

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tease

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

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

noun

SYNONYMS FOR tease

ANTONYMS FOR tease

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of tease

synonym study for tease

OTHER WORDS FROM tease

Example sentences from the Web for tease

British Dictionary definitions for tease

verb

noun

Derived forms of tease

Word Origin for tease

Medical definitions for tease

v.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

tease

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

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

noun

SYNONYMS FOR tease

ANTONYMS FOR tease

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of tease

synonym study for tease

OTHER WORDS FROM tease

Words related to tease

Example sentences from the Web for tease

British Dictionary definitions for tease

verb

noun

Derived forms of tease

Word Origin for tease

Medical definitions for tease

v.