teasing

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the act of laughing at someone or making jokes about them.

n. the act of harassing or provoking someone through ridicule or persistent annoyance.

“The boy cried because the teasing from the older kids was too mean.”

“While some level of teasing is common in social groups, it can quickly escalate into bullying if the power dynamic is unbalanced.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

adj. behaving in a way that suggests sexual interest without intending to follow through.

adj. intended to arouse sexual desire or interest without the intention of satisfying it.

“She sent him a teasing text message to see how he would react.”

“The marketing campaign relied on teasing imagery that hinted at more than it actually revealed, a common tactic in luxury branding.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical

n. combing your hair toward your head to make it look thicker.

n. the process of backcombing hair to create volume or remove tangles.

“The stylist used a lot of teasing to give her hair more volume for the wedding.”

“Excessive teasing can damage the hair cuticle over time, leading to breakage and a loss of natural shine.”