Dictionary Definition
piquant adj
2 engagingly stimulating or provocative; "a
piquant wit"; "salty language" [syn: salty]
3 attracting or delighting; "an engaging
frankness"; "a piquant face with large appealing eyes" [syn:
engaging]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
Middle French piquant "pricking, stimulating, irritating".Adjective
Translations
Engaging; charming
- Italian: piccante
Favorably stimulating to the palate
Causing hurt feelings
Pronunciation
- /pi.kɑ̃/
- /pi.kA~/
Adjective
Extensive Definition
Pungency is a sharp and biting sensory impression. Regarding
chili
peppers, it refers to a scientific equivalent of the Scoville
scale of measuring spicyness.
Mechanism
The pungent feeling caused by allyl
isothiocyanate, capsaicin, piperine, and allicin is caused by activation
of the heat and acidity sensing TRPC ion channel
TRPC1 on pain sensing nociceptors.
See also
piquant in Spanish: Picante
piquant in Japanese: 辛味
piquant in Chinese: 辣
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
acerbic, acid, acrid, agitating, alluring, appealing, appetizing, asperous, astringent, attractive, beguiling, bewitching, biting, bitter, blandishing, breathtaking, cajoling, captivating, catching, caustic, challenging, charged, charismatic, charming, cliff-hanging,
coaxing, come-hither,
coquettish, cutting, disquieting, distracting, disturbing, electric, enchanting, encouraging, energizing, engaging, enravishing, enthralling, enticing, entrancing, escharotic, exciting, exhilarating, exotic, fascinating, fetching, flirtatious, galvanic, galvanizing, glamorous, harsh, heady, heart-expanding,
heart-stirring, heart-swelling, heart-thrilling, hypnotic, impressive, inflammatory, interesting, intoxicating, intriguing, inviting, irresistible, irritating, jarring, jolting, juicy, keen, lively, maddening, mesmeric, mind-blowing,
mordant, mouth-watering,
moving, nose-tickling,
overcoming, overmastering, overpowering, overwhelming, penetrating, peppery, peppy, perturbing, piercing, poignant, prepossessing, prompting, provocative, provoking, provoquant, pungent, racy, ravishing, readable, rich, rough, rousing, seducing, seductive, severe, sharp, siren, sirenic, snappy, soul-stirring, sour, sparkling, spellbinding, spellful, spicy, spirit-stirring, spirited, stimulant, stimulating, stimulative, stinging, stirring, striking, succulent, suspenseful, suspensive, taking, tantalizing, teasing, telling, tempting, thought-challenging,
thought-inspiring, thought-provoking, thrilling, thrilly, tickling, titillating, titillative, trenchant, troubling, unsettling, upsetting, vitriolic, vivacious, winning, winsome, witching, zesty