tease

Definitions of tease in various dictionaries:

noun - someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)

noun - a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men

noun - the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule)

verb - annoy persistently

verb - harass with persistent criticism or carping

verb - to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them

verb - tear into pieces

verb - raise the nap of (fabrics)

verb - disentangle and raise the fibers of

verb - separate the fibers of

verb - mock or make fun of playfully

verb - ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect

To annoy or pester; vex.

To make fun of; mock playfully.

To arouse hope, desire, or curiosity in without affording satisfaction.

To urge persistently; coax: teasing their mother for more candy.

To gain by persistent coaxing: “the New York editor who could tease great books from the unpromising woolly jumble of an author’s first draft” (Ian Jack).

To deal with or have an effect on as if by teasing.

To cut (tissue, for example) into pieces for examination.

To disentangle and dress the fibers of (wool, for example).

To raise the nap of (cloth) by dressing, as with a fuller’s teasel.

To annoy or make fun of someone persistently.

The act of teasing.

The state of being teased.

One given to playful mocking.

A woman who behaves like a coquette.

A preliminary remark or act intended to whet the curiosity.

adj - to make fun of [v TEASED, TEASING, TEASES] : TEASABLE