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piquant — meaning in English

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English meaning

  • heat noun The energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth.
  • hot adj Having or giving off a high temperature.
  • piquant adj Causing hurt feelings; scathing, severe.
  • pungent adj Having a sharp, strong smell or taste that stings the nose or tongue.
  • quill noun The hollow central shaft of a bird's feather.
  • spicy adjective Containing spices, or producing a hot, burning sensation on the tongue (usually from chili).
  • spiky adjective Covered with sharp points; having spikes.
  • spine noun A series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a human, or from the head to the tail of an animal, enclosing the spinal cord and providing support for the thorax and abdomen.
  • spiny adjective Covered with spines or sharp points.
  • stingy adj Unwilling to spend, give, or share; miserly.
  • tangy adj Having a sharp, zesty flavor.
  • thorn noun A sharp, hard, pointed growth on a plant stem or branch.
  • zesty adj Having a piquant or pungent taste; spicy.

Senses

piquant is used for these senses in English:

  • heat (uncountable) An attribute of a spice that causes a burning sensation in the mouth.
  • hot (of food) Spicy, pungent, piquant, as some chilis and other spices are.
  • piquant Favorably stimulating to the palate; pleasantly spicy; tangy. [from 17th c.]
  • pungent (botany) Having a sharp and stiff point.
  • quill A sharply pointed, barbed, and easily detached needle-like structure that grows on the skin of a porcupine or hedgehog as a defense against predators. [from early 17th c.]
  • raciness The property of being racy.
  • spicy (of foods, flavors, or odors) Tangy, zesty, or pungent.
  • spiky Having one or more spikes; spiny.

heat — full definition

  1. noun The energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth.
  2. noun Strong or intense emotion, especially anger or excitement.
  3. noun A qualifying round in a race or competition.
  4. noun Informal: intense pressure or scrutiny, especially from police or authorities.
  5. verb To make something hot or warm.

hot — full definition

  1. adj Having or giving off a high temperature.
  2. adj Very attractive or sexually appealing.
  3. adj Extremely popular, in demand, or currently exciting.
  4. adj Spicy or pungent in taste.
  5. adj Live, active, or ready for use — for example, a hot microphone or a live electrical wire.

Related French words