Teasing is the act of playfully disturbing another person, either with words or with actions. In mild cases, and especially when it is reciprocal, it is essentially a form of playing (friendly teasing). However, teasing can be also used as painful harassment (cruel teasing). In extreme cases it may escalate to real violence, and may even result in abuse (in the case of a child: child abuse).
One may also tease an animal. Some animals, such as a cat or dog, may recognize and enjoy this as playing.
Teasing may also be pretending to give the other something which the other desires, or giving it very slowly. This is usually done by arousing curiosity or desire and may not actually involve actual intent to satisfy or disclose. This is also called "tantalizing", after the story of Tantalus.
"To tease", or to "be a tease" in a sexual sense can mean to by dress, posture, language and/or other means of flirting to cause another person to become sexually aroused, without any intent to proceed further - usually to the frustration of the person teased. However, such teasing may sometimes be an intended prelude to a more serious engagement, an ambiguity that may lead to uncomfortable situations. In a more physical sense, it can also mean slowly pleasuring someone while holding off on bringing them to orgasm.
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See also: brain teaser, bullying, striptease
