/ tɔːnt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
[ vn ] to try to make sb angry or upset by saying unkind things about them, laughing at their failures, etc. :
The other kids continually taunted him about his size.
■ noun
an insulting or unkind remark that is intended to make sb angry or upset :
Black players often had to endure racist taunts.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from French tant pour tant like for like, tit for tat, from tant so much, from Latin tantum , neuter of tantus . An early use of the verb was exchange banter .