Taunt - Definitions from Dictionary.com

11 results for: Taunt

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

taunt1

Audio Help [tawnt, tahnt] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to reproach in a sarcastic, insulting, or jeering manner; mock.

2.	to provoke by taunts; twit.

–noun

3.	an insulting gibe or sarcasm; scornful reproach or challenge.

4.	Obsolete. an object of insulting gibes or scornful reproaches.

[Origin: 1505–15; orig. uncert.

]

—Related forms

taunter, noun

taunt·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. censure, upbraid, flout, insult. 2, 3. jeer. See ridicule. 3. scoff, derision, insult, censure, ridicule.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Taunt

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

taunt2

Audio Help [tawnt, tahnt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective Nautical.

tall, as a mast.

[Origin: 1490–1500; orig. uncert.

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

taunt¹ Audio Help (tônt) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. taunt·ed, taunt·ing, taunts

To reproach in a mocking, insulting, or contemptuous manner. See Synonyms at ridicule.
To drive or incite (a person) by taunting.

n. A scornful remark or tirade; a jeer.

[Origin unknown.]

taunt'er n., taunt'ing·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

taunt² Audio Help (tônt) Pronunciation Key
adj. Nautical
Unusually tall. Used of masts.

[Origin unknown.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
taunt (v.)

1515, possibly from M.Fr. tanter, tenter "to tempt, try, provoke," variant of tempter "to try" (see tempt). Or from M.Fr. tant pour tant "so much for so much, tit for tat," on notion of "sarcastic rejoinder." The noun is attested from 1529.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

taunt
noun
1.	aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing [syn: twit]
verb
1.	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"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
taunt [toːnt] verb

to tease, or say unpleasant things to (a person) in a cruel way
Example: The children at school taunted him for being dirty.

Arabic:	يَسْخَر من، يَنْتَقِد بطَريقَةٍ ساخِرَه
Chinese (Simplified):	嘲笑，辱骂
Chinese (Traditional):	嘲笑，辱罵
Czech:	posmívat se
Danish:	mobbe; håne
Dutch:	tergen
Estonian:	mõnitama
Finnish:	pilkata
French:	accabler de sarcasmes
German:	verhöhnen
Greek:	χλευάζω
Hungarian:	kigúnyol
Icelandic:	spotta, stríða
Indonesian:	mengejek
Italian:	deridere; tormentare

Japanese:	あざける
Korean:	조소하다; 조롱하다
Latvian:	izsmiet
Lithuanian:	tyčiotis iš
Norwegian:	mobbe, håne, gjøre narr
Polish:	wyśmiewać się z, dręczyć
Portuguese (Brazil):	escarnecer, zombar
Portuguese (Portugal):	troçar
Romanian:	a batjocori, a zeflemisi
Russian:	дразнить
Slovak:	posmievať sa
Slovenian:	rogati se
Spanish:	mofarse (de), reírse (de); insultar
Swedish:	håna, pika
Turkish:	alay etmek

taunt [toːnt] noun

cruel, unpleasant remarks
Example: He did not seem to notice their taunts.

Arabic:	مُلاحَظات ساخِرَه
Chinese (Simplified):	嘲笑
Chinese (Traditional):	嘲笑
Czech:	výsměch
Danish:	mobning; hån
Dutch:	spot
Estonian:	mõnitamine
Finnish:	nälväisy
French:	sarcasme
German:	der Hohn
Greek:	σκληρό πείραγμα
Hungarian:	gúnyos megjegyzés
Icelandic:	spott, háðsglósur
Indonesian:	ejekan
Italian:	sarcasmo

Japanese:	あざけり
Korean:	조소
Latvian:	izsmiekls; aizskaroša piezīme
Lithuanian:	patyčia
Norwegian:	hånlig bemerkning, stikk
Polish:	urąganie, naigrywanie się
Portuguese (Brazil):	zombaria
Portuguese (Portugal):	zombaria
Romanian:	zeflemea, batjocură
Russian:	издёвка
Slovak:	výsmech
Slovenian:	roganje
Spanish:	mofa, burla; insulto
Swedish:	glåpord, gliring, pik
Turkish:	alay

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Taunt

De*ride"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriding.] [L. deridere, derisum; de- + rid?re to laugh. See Ridicule.] To laugh at with contempt; to laugh to scorn; to turn to ridicule or make sport of; to mock; to scoff at.

And the Pharisees, also, . . . derided him. --Luke xvi. 14.

Sport that wrinkled Care derides. And Laughter holding both his sides. --Milton.

Syn: To mock; laugh at; ridicule; insult; taunt; jeer; banter; rally.

Usage: To Deride, Ridicule, Mock, Taunt. A man may ridicule without any unkindness of feeling; his object may be to correct; as, to ridicule the follies of the age. He who derides is actuated by a severe a contemptuous spirit; as, to deride one for his religious principles. To mock is stronger, and denotes open and scornful derision; as, to mock at sin. To taunt is to reproach with the keenest insult; as, to taunt one for his misfortunes. Ridicule consists more in words than in actions; derision and mockery evince themselves in actions as well as words; taunts are always expressed in words of extreme bitterness.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Taunt

Taunt\, a. [Cf. OF. tant so great, F. tant so much, L. tantus of such size, so great, so much.] (Naut.) Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts. --Totten.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Taunt

Taunt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Taunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Taunting.] [Earlier, to tease; probably fr. OF. tanter to tempt, to try, for tenter. See Tempt.] To reproach with severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout.

When I had at my pleasure taunted her. --Shak.

Syn: To deride; ridicule; mock; jeer; flout; revile. See Deride.

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