transitive verb.
To excite by exposing something desirable that remains or is made difficult or impossible to obtain.
transitive verb.
To be strongly attractive to; excite the senses or desire of.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
To tease or torment by presenting something desirable to the view, and frustrating expectation by keeping it out of reach; excite expectations or hopes or fears in (a person) which will not be realized; tease; torment; vex. Also spelled tantalise.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
transitive verb.
To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view and exciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations by keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment.