piquant taste

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• Taste — (or, more formally, gustation) is a form of direct chemoreception and is one of the traditional five senses. It refers to the ability to detect the flavor of substances such as food and poisons. In humans and many other vertebrate animals the… …   Wikipedia

• Piquant — Pi quant, a. [F., p. pr. of piquer to prick or sting. See {Pike}.] Stimulating to the taste; giving zest; tart; sharp; pungent; as, a piquant anecdote. As piquant to the tongue as salt. Addison. Piquant railleries. Gov. of Tongue. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• piquant — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour. 2) pleasantly stimulating or exciting. DERIVATIVES piquancy noun piquantly adverb. ORIGIN French, stinging, pricking …   English terms dictionary

• piquant — [pē′kənt, pē′känt, pē′kwənt] adj. [Fr, prp. of piquer, to prick, sting: see PIKE2] 1. agreeably pungent or stimulating to the taste; pleasantly sharp or biting 2. exciting agreeable interest or curiosity; stimulating; provocative 3. Archaic… …   English World dictionary

• piquant — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. pungent, flavorful, strong, sharp; tart; keen, stimulating. See feeling, excitement, pungency. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [StimuLating the interest] Syn. charming, sparkling, enticing; see exciting …   English dictionary for students

• piquant — [[t]pi͟ːkənt, kɑːnt[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Food that is piquant has a pleasantly spicy taste. [WRITTEN] ...a crisp mixed salad with an unusually piquant dressing. Derived words: piquancy [[t]pi͟ːkənsi[/t]] N UNCOUNT A little mustard is served on the… …   English dictionary

• piquant — piquancy, piquantness, n. piquantly, adv. /pee keuhnt, kahnt, pee kahnt /, adj. 1. agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart: a piquant aspic. 2. agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive: a piquant glance.… …   Universalium

• piquant — adjective 1 having a pleasantly sharp taste or flavour: a piquant tomato sauce 2 interesting and exciting; intriguing: The disappearance of the letter made the situation all the more piquant. piquantly adverb piquancy noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• piquant — pi|quant [ˈpi:kənt] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: , present participle of piquer; PIQUE2] 1.) having a pleasantly spicy taste ▪ a piquant wild mushroom sauce 2.) interesting and exciting >piquantly adv >piquancy n [U] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• piquant — pi•quant [[t]ˈpi kənt, kɑnt, piˈkɑnt[/t]] adj. 1) agreeably pungent or sharp in taste 2) of an interestingly provocative or lively character: a piquant wit[/ex] 3) archaic sharp or stinging, esp. to the feelings • Etymology: 1645–55; < F: lit …   From formal English to slang

• piquant — /ˈpikənt / (say peekuhnt), /piˈkɒnt/ (say pee kont) adjective 1. agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavour; biting; tart. 2. agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive. 3. of a smart or racy character: piquant wit. 4. Obsolete sharp… …