definitions

piquant

[ pee-kuhnt, -kahnt, pee-kahnt ]
/ ˈpi kənt, -kɑnt, piˈkɑnt /
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adjective

agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart: a piquant aspic.
agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive: a piquant glance.
of an interestingly provocative or lively character: a piquant wit.
Archaic. sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings.

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RELATED WORDS

relish, zest, flavoring, tang, sharpness, liveliness, salt, raciness, spice

Nearby words

pippin, pipsissewa, pipsqueak, pipy, piqua, piquant, pique, piquet, piquillo, piqué, pir

Origin of piquant

1515–25; < French: literally, pricking (see pique1, -ant); replacing pickante < Italian piccante

SYNONYMS FOR piquant

1 spicy.
2 intriguing.
3 sharp, clever.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR piquant ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pi·quan·cy, pi·quant·ness, nounpi·quant·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for piquancy

British Dictionary definitions for piquancy

piquant

/ (ˈpiːkənt, -kɑːnt) /

adjective

having an agreeably pungent or tart taste
lively or stimulating to the mind

Derived Forms

piquancy or rare piquantness, nounpiquantly, adverb

Word Origin for piquant

C16: from French (literally: prickling), from piquer to prick, goad; see pique 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012