English noun: tease | |||
1. | tease (person) someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity) | ||
Synonyms | annoyer, teaser, vexer | ||
Broader (hypernym) | persona non grata, unwelcome person | ||
2. | tease (person) a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men | ||
Synonyms | coquette, flirt, minx, prickteaser, vamp, vamper | ||
Broader (hypernym) | adult female, woman | ||
3. | tease (act) the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances | ||
Samples | He ignored their teases. His ribbing was gentle but persistent. | ||
Synonyms | ribbing, tantalization, teasing | ||
Broader (hypernym) | harassment, molestation | ||
English verb: tease | |||
1. | tease (emotion) annoy persistently | ||
Samples | The children teased the boy because of his stammer. | ||
Examples | Sam cannot tease Sue | ||
Synonyms | badger, beleaguer, bug, pester | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate, rag, torment | ||
2. | tease (communication) harass with persistent criticism or carping | ||
Samples | The children teased the new teacher. Don't ride me so hard over my failure. His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie. | ||
Synonyms | bait, cod, rag, rally, razz, ride, tantalise, tantalize, taunt, twit | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bemock, mock | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | banter, barrack, chaff, flout, gibe, jeer, jolly, josh, kid, scoff | ||
3. | tease (emotion) to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them | ||
Samples | The advertisement is intended to tease the customers. She has a way of teasing men with her flirtatious behavior. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | control, keep in line, manipulate | ||
Entail | arouse, disappoint, excite, let down, sex, turn on, wind up | ||
4. | tease (contact) tear into pieces | ||
Samples | Tease tissue for microscopic examinations. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | rip up, shred, tear up | ||
5. | tease (contact) raise the nap of (fabrics) | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change surface | ||
Entail | brush | ||
6. | tease (contact) disentangle and raise the fibers of | ||
Samples | Tease wool. | ||
Synonyms | loosen, tease apart | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | disentangle, straighten out, unsnarl | ||
7. | tease (contact) separate the fibers of | ||
Samples | Tease wool. | ||
Synonyms | card | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | separate | ||
8. | tease (communication) mock or make fun of playfully | ||
Samples | The flirting man teased the young woman. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | blackguard, guy, jest at, laugh at, make fun, poke fun, rib, ridicule, roast | ||
9. | tease (body) ruffle (one's hair) by combing the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect | ||
Examples | They tease their hair | ||
Synonyms | fluff | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | comb, comb out, disentangle | ||