TEASE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Tease

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/tiz/ Listen

verb

Tease v. t. (past & past part. teased; pres. part. teasing)

1.

To comb or card, as wool or flax. "Teasing matted wool."

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. "He... suffered them to tease him into acts directly opposed to his strongest inclinations."

Synonyms: To vex; harass: annoy; disturb; irritate; plague; torment; mortify; tantalize; chagrin. 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." "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."

Tease tenon (Joinery), a long tenon at the top of a post to receive two beams crossing each other one above the other.

noun

Tease n. One who teases or plagues. (Colloq.)

See images of 'Tease'

Etymology of 'Tease'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Tease" Quotes from Famous Books

... contrary, had led out one of his maiden aunts, on whom the rogue played a thousand little knaveries with impunity: he was full of practical jokes, and his delight was to tease his aunts and cousins, yet, like all madcap youngsters, he was a universal favorite among the women. The most interesting couple in the dance was the young officer and a ward of the squire's, a beautiful blushing girl of seventeen. From several shy glances which I had noticed in the course of ...

— The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. • Washington Irving

... was what schoolboys call a tease; but his teasings were never spiteful, and seldom unkind. His ill-humor, easily aroused, disappeared like a cloud driven by the wind; it evaporated in words, and disappeared of its own will. Sometimes, however, when matters of public import were concerned, ...

— The Companions of Jehu • Alexandre Dumas

... they didn't give him a show to learn nothing; kept him at the same work all the time, and he didn't have cheek enough to arsk the boss for a rise, lest he'd be sacked. He couldn't fight, an' the boys used to tease him; they'd wait outside the shop to have a lark with Arvie. I'd like to see 'em do it to me. He couldn't fight; but then, of course, he wasn't strong. They don't bother me while I'm strong enough to heave a rock; but then, of course, ...

— While the Billy Boils • Henry Lawson

... the dainty Ariel in so smoothly with our best sympathies. Though Goodfellow by name, his powers and aptitudes for mischief are quite unchecked by any gentle relentings of fellow-feeling: in whatever distresses he finds or occasions he sees much to laugh at, nothing to pity: to tease and vex poor human sufferers, and then to think "what fools these mortals be," is pure fun to him. Yet, notwithstanding his mad pranks, we cannot choose but love the little sinner, and let our fancy frolic with ...

— Shakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I. • H. N. Hudson

... Allie!" his hearers would cry. Then they would ask him about the fox-hunting in Bucks, and tease him for further particulars about his sister Edith, ...

— With the Procession • Henry B. Fuller

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