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taunt - 8 dictionary results

taunt

1  [tawnt, tahnt]
Use taunt in a Sentence
–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.

taunt

2  [tawnt, tahnt]
–adjective Nautical.
tall, as a mast.
Origin:
1490–1500; orig. uncert.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To taunt
taunt 1   (tônt)   
tr.v.   taunt·ed, taunt·ing, taunts
  1. To reproach in a mocking, insulting, or contemptuous manner. See Synonyms at ridicule.
  2. 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.
taunt 2   (tônt)   
adj.   Nautical
Unusually tall. Used of masts.

[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

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.

Taunt

Taunt\, n. Upbraiding language; bitter or sarcastic reproach; insulting invective.

With scoffs, and scorns, and contemelious taunts. --Shak.

With sacrilegious taunt and impious jest. --Prior.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : taunt
Spanish: mofarse (de), reírse (de); insultar,
German: verhöhnen,
Japanese: あざける
More Translations »

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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