Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Perhaps from Old French tenter 'to try, tempt'

taunt

1 verb
     
taunt1 [transitive]
to try to make someone angry or upset by saying unkind things to them
taunt somebody about something
The other children taunted him about his weight.
taunt somebody with something
They taunted him with the nickname 'Fatso'.
'And he'll believe you, will he?' Maria taunted.
—tauntingly adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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