—n. Insult; provocation. —v. Insult; provoke contemptuously. [french tant pour tant tit for tat, smart rejoinder]

adj. & n. Grey tinged with esp. Brown. [french, = *mole1]

adj. (-ier, -iest) orange-brown or yellow-brown. [anglo-french taune: related to *tan1]

- owl n. Reddish-brown european owl.

n. (pl. Taxa) any taxonomic group. [back-formation from *taxonomy]

n. T-shaped bone, esp. In steak from the thin end of a loin.

v. (past and past part. Taught) 1 a give systematic information, instruction, or training to (a person) or about (a subject or skill) (taught me to swim). B (absol.) Practise this professionally. C communicate, instruct in (suffering taught me patience).

- advocate as a moral etc. Principle (taught forgiveness).

- (foll. By to + infin.) A instruct (a person) by example or punishment (that will teach you not to disobey). B colloq. Discourage (a person) from (that will teach you to laugh). teachable adj. [old english]

—v. (-sing) (also absol.) 1 a make fun of playfully, unkindly, or annoyingly; irritate. B allure, esp. Sexually, while withholding satisfaction.

- pick (wool etc.) Into separate fibres.

- dress (cloth) esp. With teasels. —n. - colloq. Person fond of teasing.

- act of teasing (only a tease). tease out separate by disentangling. [old english]

boy n. Colloq. Youth, esp. Of the 1950s, wearing edwardian-style clothes, hairstyle, etc. [teddy, pet form of edward]

- n. (also teddy) (pl. -ies) (in full teddy bear) soft toy bear. [teddy, pet form of theodore roosevelt]

n.pl. Years of one's age from 13 to 19 (in his teens).

adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. Tiny. [var. Of *tiny]