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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Tease \Tease\ (t[=e]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Teased} (t[=e]zd);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Teasing}.] [AS. t?san to pluck, tease; akin
to OD. teesen, MHG. zeisen, Dan. t[ae]se, t[ae]sse. [root]58.
Cf. {Touse}.]
1. To comb or card, as wool or flax. "Teasing matted wool."
--Wordsworth.
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2. To stratch, as cloth, for the purpose of raising a nap;
teasel.
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3. (Anat.) To tear or separate into minute shreds, as with
needles or similar instruments.
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4. To vex with importunity or impertinence; to harass, annoy,
disturb, or irritate by petty requests, or by jests and
raillery; to plague. --Cowper.
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He . . . suffered them to tease him into acts
directly opposed to his strongest inclinations.
--Macaulay.
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Syn: To vex; harass: annoy; disturb; irritate; plague;
torment; mortify; tantalize; chagrin.

Usage: {Tease}, {Vex}. To tease is literally to pull or
scratch, and implies a prolonged annoyance in respect
to little things, which is often more irritating, and
harder to bear, than severe pain. Vex meant originally
to seize and bear away hither and thither, and hence,
to disturb; as, to vex the ocean with storms. This
sense of the term now rarely occurs; but vex is still
a stronger word than tease, denoting the disturbance
or anger created by minor provocations, losses,
disappointments, etc. We are teased by the buzzing of
a fly in our eyes; we are vexed by the carelessness or
stupidity of our servants.
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Not by the force of carnal reason,
But indefatigable teasing. --Hudibras.
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In disappointments, where the affections have
been strongly placed, and the expectations
sanguine, particularly where the agency of
others is concerned, sorrow may degenerate into
vexation and chagrin. --Cogan.
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{Tease tenon} (Joinery), a long tenon at the top of a post to
receive two beams crossing each other one above the other.
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Tease \Tease\, n.
One who teases or plagues. [Colloq.]
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