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tease

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /tiːz/

Forms: teasing, teased

tease means: To make jokes about someone, usually in a friendly way, to get a reaction from them.

verb

MAKE FUNB1

To make jokes about someone, usually in a friendly way, to get a reaction from them.

  • Please don't tease your sister.
  • We teased each other about our terrible dancing.
  • Are you teasing me, or do you really like my hat?

How to use it: tease someone about something (My friends tease me about my old phone.); tease someone for doing something (They teased him for wearing odd socks.)

Similar words: make fun of, poke fun at, kid

Common phrases: tease someone, tease someone gently, tease each other

TEMPTC1

To make someone want something by offering a little of it or suggesting they might get it.

  • Her playful smile teased him.
  • The trailer teased fans with a glimpse of the new hero.
  • They keep teasing us with promises of a holiday.

How to use it: tease someone with something (The chef teased us with a tiny taste of the dessert.)

Similar words: tempt, entice, tantalize

Common phrases: tease someone with something, tease the audience, tease the senses

Questions about tease

What does tease mean?

To make jokes about someone, usually in a friendly way, to get a reaction from them.

What is tease in other languages?

Türkçe: takılmak · Español: tomar el pelo · Français: taquiner · Deutsch: necken · Italiano: prendere in giro · 日本語: からかう

How do you pronounce tease?

It is pronounced /tiːz/.

How do you use tease in a sentence?

Please don't tease your sister. We teased each other about our terrible dancing.

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Phrases with tease

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