Past tense of tease; to playfully joke with someone or to make fun of them in a way that might hurt their feelings.
From Old English 'tæsan' (to pull apart, to comb wool), originally related to textile work. The meaning shifted to 'annoy' and then to the playful mockery we know today.
Anthropologists call teasing a form of 'social grooming'—it shows trust and closeness, which is why friends tease each other. The word itself is rooted in pulling apart fibers, mirroring how teasing picks apart ideas.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.