What does tantalise mean?

Definitions for tantalise
tan·ta·lise

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word tantalise.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. tease, razz, rag, cod, tantalize, tantalise, bait, taunt, twit, rally, rideverb

    harass with persistent criticism or carping

    "The children teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie"

ChatGPT

  1. tantalise

    To tantalise means to tease or torment by presenting something desirable to someone but keeping it out of their reach. It involves exciting the senses or desires of another person, often by making them feel that what they want is nearly within their grasp, only to withhold it or make it unachievable.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Tantalise

    tan′ta-līz, v.t. to torment by presenting something to excite desire, but keeping it out of reach.—ns. Tantalisā′tion, the act of tantalising: state of being tantalised; Tan′taliser, one who, or that which, tantalises.—adv. Tan′talisingly.—ns. Tan′talism, the punishment of Tantalus: a tormenting; Tan′talus, a spirit-case that locks; Tan′talus-cup, a philosophical toy, having a siphon within the figure of a man whose chin is on a level with its bend. [Tantalus, in Gr. mythology, who stood in Tartarus up to his chin in water, with branches of fruit over his head, the water receding when he wished to drink, and the fruit when he wished to eat.]

Etymology and Origins

  1. Tantalise

    A word based upon the fable of Tantalus, a son of Jupiter, who, because he betrayed his father’s secrets, was made to stand up to his chin in water, with branches of luscious fruit over his head, but when he wished to drink or to eat the water and the fruit receded from him.

How to pronounce tantalise?

How to say tantalise in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of tantalise in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of tantalise in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Popularity rank by frequency of use

tantalise#100000#321242#333333

Translation

Find a translation for the tantalise definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"tantalise." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/tantalise>.

Discuss these tantalise definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for tantalise? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    a state of acute pain
    A guts
    B suffering
    C contribution
    D gauge

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for tantalise: