tease

Formsteases, teasing, teased

Pluralteases

1. 1
   make funverbtransitive

   To make jokes about someone or laugh at them, in a friendly or unkind way.

   My brothers always tease me about my red hair.

   Kids at school teased him because of his glasses.

   Similarrazz

   Note
2. 2
   annoyverbtransitive

   To bother or annoy a person or animal on purpose.

   Don't tease the dog while it is eating.

   The boys teased the angry goose with sticks until it chased them.

   Similarride

   Oppositesoothe, placate

   Note
3. 3
   previewverbcolloquialtransitive

   To give a small hint about something that is coming soon.

   The company teased its new phone in a short video.

   Singers often tease new songs online before they come out.

   Similarpreview, trail, foreshadow

4. 4
   lead on (sexually)verbtransitive

   To make someone feel sexual desire on purpose, without planning to do anything more.

   She liked to tease him with long kisses and then say good night at the door.

   He teased her all evening on the dance floor and then went home alone.

   Similartantalize

   Note
5. 5
   temptverbtransitive

   To get someone interested by offering something they want.

   The baker put warm cookies by the door to tease people inside.

   She teased the shy kitten out from under the bed with a piece of string.

   Similartempt, entice, lure, draw, coax

   Oppositerepel, deter

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   Someone who likes to joke about other people or bother them for fun.

   My uncle is a big tease and never stops joking about my haircut.

   Don't mind Sam. He's just a tease.

   Similarjoker, kidder

7. 7
   sexual flirtnouncountable

   A person who makes others feel sexual desire on purpose but does not want to go further.

   She hated being called a tease just because she liked to flirt.

   In the movie, the hero wrongly decides that the girl next door is a tease.

   Note
8. 8
   one jokenouncountable

   One time when someone teases another person.

   It was only a tease, so don't be upset.

   Each little tease from her brothers made her laugh harder.

   Similarjibe, dig, jest

9. 9
   puff up hairverbtransitive

   To comb hair the wrong way, toward the head, so it looks bigger.

   She teased her hair into a huge beehive for the party.

   Tease the hair at the top before you pin it up.

   Similarbackcomb

10. 10
    nag intoverbtransitive

    To get someone to do something by bothering them again and again.

    Don't let them tease you into lending them your bike.

    The kids teased their dad into buying them ice cream.

    Similarbadger, pester, nag, coax

    Note
11. 11
    separate fibersverbtransitive

    To pull apart the fine threads in a material like wool.

    She teased the tangled wool apart until it was soft and fluffy.

    Gently tease the cotton apart with your fingers.

    Similarcard, comb, separate

    Note
12. 12
    verbtransitive

    To comb wool or cloth so that all the threads lie the same way.

    Workers teased the wool with wire combs so the threads all lay one way.

    You need to tease the fleece so the fibers lie straight before spinning.

    Similarcomb, card

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