tease/tiz/USA pronunciationv.,teased, teas•ing,n. v.
to irritate, bother, or anger (someone or an animal) with jokes, playful words or actions, or other annoyances: [~ + object]She teased me about my girlfriends.[no object]Don't tease; it's cruel to animals.
to excite someone's interest or desire with no intention to gratify it; tantalize: [no object]She thought he really liked her, but he was just teasing.[~ + object]just teasing her.
to fluff up (the hair) by holding at the ends and combing toward the scalp so as to give body to a hairdo:[~ + object]Her hair was teased.
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.
Radio and Television, Show Business, Slang TermsAlso, teaser.[Television Slang.]a short scene or highlight shown at the beginning of a film or television show to attract the audience's attention.
v.i.
to provoke or disturb a person or animal by importunity or persistent petty annoyances.
n.
a person who teases or annoys.
the act of teasing or the state of being teased.
bef. 1000; Middle English tesen (verb, verbal), Old English tǣsan to pull, tear, comb; cognate with Middle Low German tesen, Old High German zeisan to pluck
teas′a•ble, adj. teas′a•ble•ness, n. teas′ing•ly, adv.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged trouble, disturb, vex; harass. See bother.