# teaser

/ˈtizɝ/ (US) · /tˈiːzɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/teaser
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. promotional preview

noun · CEFR B2

a very short advertisement or video for a new movie, book, or product that shows just enough to make you want to see more.

For teachers: a brief promotional segment or advertisement released ahead of a full product to stimulate consumer interest and anticipation.

- The studio released a ten-second teaser for the new superhero movie on social media.
- The marketing department opted for a cryptic teaser campaign, releasing vague images months before the official trailer to build online speculation.

### 2. a person who teases

noun · CEFR B2

someone who likes to joke with people or annoy them in a playful or sometimes unkind way.

For teachers: an individual who habitually provokes, mocks, or irritates others, whether playfully or with malicious intent.

- My older brother was a real teaser when we were kids, always hiding my toys.
- Though he was known as a relentless teaser in the office, his colleagues understood that his dry wit was rarely intended to cause genuine offense.

### 3. TV opening scene

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short scene at the very beginning of a TV show that starts the story before the opening music plays.

For teachers: a short sequence at the beginning of a television programme, preceding the title credits, designed to establish the narrative hook.

- The show's teaser was so exciting that I couldn't turn the TV off.
- The episode's teaser featured a dramatic cliffhanger from the previous season, ensuring high viewer retention through the first commercial break.

### 4. theatre curtain

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short, wide curtain at the top of a stage used to hide lights and equipment from the audience.

For teachers: a horizontal masking frame or short curtain suspended above the stage to hide the flies and adjust the height of the proscenium opening.

- The stage crew lowered the teaser to hide the overhead spotlights.
- The set designer requested a velvet teaser to match the main house tabs, ensuring a seamless visual frame for the period production.

### 5. fishing lure

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a fake fish used to attract real fish toward a boat, often without a hook of its own.

For teachers: a hookless lure or attractant used to draw predatory fish into a spread of hooked baits.

- The fisherman used a bright plastic teaser to get the attention of the marlin.
- By trolling a large surface teaser, the crew successfully raised several sailfish that had been holding deep in the water column.

## Examples

- The studio released a short teaser for the new superhero movie.
- After the season finale, the network aired a thirty-second teaser to hint at next year's plot.
- While a full trailer provides a narrative overview, a teaser relies on evocative imagery and cryptic dialogue to generate early social media engagement and fan theories.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.