Tease word meaning and definition

[noun] the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances; "he ignored their teases"; "his ribbing was gentle but persistent"
[noun] a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
[noun] someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)
[verb] ruffle by combing towards the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect; of hair
[verb] harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie"
[verb] separate the fibers of
[verb] disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool"
[verb] raise the nap of (fabrics)
[verb] tear into pieces; "tease tissue for microscopic examinations"
[verb] annoy persistently; "The children teased the boy because of his stammer"
[verb] offer and withdraw

\Tease\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Teased}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Teasing}.] [AS. t?san to pluck, tease; akin to OD. teesen, MHG. zeisen, Dan. t[ae]se, t[ae]sse. [root]58. Cf. {Touse}.] 1. To comb or card, as wool or flax. ``Teasing matted wool.'' --Wordsworth. 2. To stratch, as cloth, for the purpose of raising a nap; teasel. 3. (Anat.) To tear or separate into minute shreds, as with needles or similar instruments. 4. To vex with importunity or impertinence; to harass, annoy, disturb, or irritate by petty requests, or by jests and raillery; to plague. --Cowper. He . . . suffered them to tease him into acts directly opposed to his strongest inclinations. --Macaulay. Syn: To vex; harass: annoy; disturb; irritate; plague; torment; mortify; tantalize; chagrin. Usage: {Tease}, {Vex}. To tease is literally to pull or scratch, and implies a prolonged annoyance in respect to little things, which is often more irritating, and harder to bear, than severe pain. Vex meant originally to seize and bear away hither and thither, and hence, to disturb; as, to vex the ocean with storms. This sense of the term now rarely occurs; but vex is still a stronger word than tease, denoting the disturbance or anger created by minor provocations, losses, disappointments, etc. We are teased by the buzzing of a fly in our eyes; we are vexed by the carelessness or stupidity of our servants. Not by the force of carnal reason, But indefatigable teasing. --Hudibras. In disappointments, where the affections have been strongly placed, and the expectations sanguine, particularly where the agency of others is concerned, sorrow may degenerate into vexation and chagrin. --Cogan. {Tease tenon} (Joinery), a long tenon at the top of a post to receive two beams crossing each other one above the other.
\Tease\, n. One who teases or plagues. [Colloq.]

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