ENGLISH
REFERENCE

teasing

adj. · n.
US //ˈtizɪŋ// UK //tˈiːzɪŋ// teas·ing
  1. 1 playfully making fun (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    making fun of someone in a playful or slightly annoying way.

    characterised by playful or mildly provocative ridicule intended to provoke a reaction.

    Example

    He gave her a teasing smile after she made a silly mistake.

    Example

    The siblings maintained a teasing relationship well into adulthood, often using light mockery to express their underlying affection.
  2. 2 the act of mocking (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    While some level of teasing is common in social groups, it can quickly escalate into bullying if the power dynamic is unbalanced.
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  1. 3 sexually provocative (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The marketing campaign relied on teasing imagery that hinted at more than it actually revealed, a common tactic in luxury branding.
  2. 4 hair styling (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

From tease + -ing.

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