I. verb
also teaze ˈtēz
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English tesen, teesen, from Old English tǣsan; akin to Old High German zeisan to pluck, tease
transitive verb
1.
a. : to disentangle and lay parallel by combing or carding
tease wool
b. : to scratch (cloth) so as to raise a nap : teasel
2. : to tear in pieces ; especially : to separate (a tissue or specimen) into minute shreds for microscopic examination
3. : ruff III 3
4.
a. : to disturb or annoy by persistent irritating or provoking action
an unpleasant thought seemed to tease him like a wasp: he moved his head slightly to avoid it — Christopher Isherwood
or tantalizing elusiveness
curiosity to know more about living things … has teased man's mind for centuries — Joel Turner
b. : to attempt to provoke anger, resentment, or confusion in especially for sport : goad , torment
a cheap cleverness put on to worry and tease the simple philistine — J.C.Powys
c. : to annoy or disturb with petty persistent requests : pester , importune
the children have been teasing me all day to be allowed to go out
also : to obtain by repeated coaxing
d. : to coax or persuade into acquiescence especially by persistent small efforts
relieved to be in a house where the family did not tease him to break the promise — Dorothy C. Fisher
5. : to tantalize or baffle by arousing desire in without the intention of satisfying it ; specifically : to determine the presence of estrus in (a female domestic animal) by approach to or contact with a male
intransitive verb
: to engage in tormenting, tantalizing, provoking, or importuning
Synonyms: see worry
II. noun
also teaze “
( -s )
1. : act of teasing or state of being teased
most parodies are little more than literary teases — Michael Swan
2. : one that teases or torments
a cruel tease when the comic spirit was riding him — J.W.Beach
3. slang : money
a mere national dearth of tease may have seemed a redundant misfortune — A.J.Liebling
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by tease ) (I) of Middle English taysen, teisen
archaic : to urge on : drive , rouse
did tease their horses homeward with convulsed spur — John Keats
IV. transitive verb
also teaze “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French tiser, short for attiser to feed or stir up (a fire), from (assumed) Vulgar Latin attitiare, from Latin ad- + titio firebrand
: to operate or stoke (a glass-melting furnace)
V. noun
: teaser I,4b