tease

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously

   The child continued to guess if the tease was ridicule or flirtation.

2. 2
   verb

   harass with persistent criticism or carping

   The children teased the new teacher

3. 3
   verb

   mock or make fun of playfully

   Our coworkers teased us for wearing sweats to the office.

4. 4
   verb

   separate the fibers of

   tease wool

5. 5
   verb

   disentangle and raise the fibers of

   tease wool

6. 6
   verb

   tear into pieces

   tease tissue for microscopic examinations

7. 7
   verb

   annoy persistently

   The children teased their classmate for having a stammer.

8. 8
   verb

   to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them

   The advertisement is intended to tease the customers

Etymology

From Middle English tesen, from Old English tǣsan (“to tease”), from Proto-West Germanic *taisijan (“to separate, tug, shred”).