v. & n.
v.tr. (also absol.) 1 a make fun of (a person or animal) playfully or unkindly or annoyingly. b tempt or allure, esp. sexually, while refusing to satisfy the desire aroused. 2 pick (wool, hair, etc.) into separate fibres. 3 dress (cloth) esp. with teasels.
n. 1 colloq. a person fond of teasing. 2 an instance of teasing (it was only a tease). tease out separate by disentangling. teasingly adv.
[ OE tsan f. WG ]