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Tease

//tiːz// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    One who teases.
  2. 2
    the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances wordnet
  3. 3
    A single act of teasing.
  4. 4
    a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men wordnet
  5. 5
    One who deliberately arouses others (usually men) sexually with no intention of satisfying that arousal.
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  1. 6
    someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity) wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To separate the fibres of (a fibrous material). transitive
  2. 2
    ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect wordnet
  3. 3
    To comb (originally with teasels) so that the fibres all lie in one direction. transitive
  4. 4
    harass with persistent criticism or carping wordnet
  5. 5
    To backcomb. transitive
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  1. 6
    mock or make fun of playfully wordnet
  2. 7
    To poke fun at, either cruelly or affectionately in a playful way. transitive

    "The difference between teasing and taunting is like the difference between kissing and spitting. The ingredients are the same; it is the emotion that determines whether it is pleasing or repellent.... Proper teasing says, in effect, "I know all your little oddities and faults, but as they are part of what makes you special, I find them charming." Taunting, in contrast, makes only the harsh statement, "I have noticed what is wrong with you.""

  3. 8
    separate the fibers of wordnet
  4. 9
    To provoke or disturb; to annoy. transitive

    "Not by the force of carnal reason, / But indefatigable teasing."

  5. 10
    disentangle and raise the fibers of wordnet
  6. 11
    To manipulate or influence the behavior of, especially by repeated acts of irritation. transitive

    "A young woman, if she fall into bad hands, may be teazed, and kept at a distance from those she wants to be with; but one cannot comprehend a young man’s being under such restraint, as not to be able to spend a week with his father, if he likes it."

  7. 12
    raise the nap of (fabrics) wordnet
  8. 13
    To entice, tempt. transitive

    "[H]ere comes my Helpmate!—She appears in great good humour——how happy I should be if I could teaze her into loving me tho' but a little——"

  9. 14
    tear into pieces wordnet
  10. 15
    To deliberately arouse someone sexually with no intention of satisfying that arousal. transitive

    "My favorite fantasy is being tied down and teased and teased."

  11. 16
    annoy persistently wordnet
  12. 17
    To show as forthcoming, in the manner of a teaser. informal, transitive

    "a less interesting character here than in the previous two films, Caesar glowers through the movie, as though aware that he has been condemned to a script that is rushing to clear the stage for the straightforward Planet Of The Apes remake first teased in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes."

  13. 18
    to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

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

Etymology 2

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

See also for "tease"

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