TEASE

v. 1 bait, taunt, torment, harass, bedevil, bother, nettle, plague, chaff, pester, annoy, irritate, needle, goad, badger, provoke, vex, twit, tantalize, frustrate, Non-Standard aggravate, Colloq guy, pick on, rib, drive mad or crazy, drive up the wall, Brit take the mickey out of, Slang rag Stop teasing the animals! Frances would tease me by agreeing to go out and then begging off with a headache 2 coax, worry, winkle, work, manipulate He was finally able to tease the broken piece of key out of the lock