Meaning & Definition
noun
The act of making fun of or provoking someone in a playful or mocking manner.
Her teasing about his new haircut made him laugh.
Light, playful banter or joking.
Their teasing was affectionate, showing their close friendship.
verb
Present participle of tease; to make fun of in a playful or mocking way.
He was teasing his sister about her favorite show.
To provoke or annoy someone by making fun of them.
The older kids were teasing the younger ones during recess.
Etymology
Middle English, from the verb 'tease', derived from Old English 'tǣsan', meaning to pull or to pluck.
Common Phrases and Expressions
teasing out:
To extract information from someone in a playful way.
teasingly:
In a playfully mocking manner.
just teasing:
Saying something to provoke but indicating it's not serious.
Slang Meanings
Playful ribbing.
They were just having some playful ribbing over the weekend.
Joking around in a friendly way.
We spent the evening joking around as usual.