picante

American  

[pi-kahn-tey, pee-kahn-te] / pɪˈkɑn teɪ, piˈkɑn tɛ /

adjective

1. prepared so as to be very hot and spicy, especially with a hot and spicy sauce.

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noun

picantes plural

1. any food that is very hot and spicy, especially a hot sauce.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• picantes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of picante

< Spanish: spicy, hot, past participle of picar to prick, bite; see pique ¹, piquant

Example Sentences

Bajo un cielo soleado, la actriz y estrella de reality shows Lisa Rinna aportó humor y un toque de picante a una charla a las 10:30 de la mañana en el escenario principal del festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Radicchio, crumbled gorgonzola picante and blueberry make up the "red, white and blue" elements of the salad, which is augmented with cucumber, frisee, red grapes and pistachio.

From Salon • Jul. 5, 2021

The meats are folded around a pocket of lettuce, provolone picante, tomatoes and onions, then dressed simply with olive oil and vinegar.

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2018

The show's Latin-flavored music has a zesty kick, but even more picante are the fast one-liners by Salinas, a member of the irrepressible Chicano comedy group Culture Clash.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 2012

The most favorite picantes are the calapulcra, the lagua, the zango, the charquican, the adobas, the picante de ullucos, &c.

From Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests by Ross, Thomasina