Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Piquant quality.
  • noun Keenness; sharpness; tartness; severity, as of remark or utterance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being piquant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The degree to which something is piquant, stimulating or exciting.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a tart spicy quality
  • noun the quality of being agreeably stimulating or mentally exciting

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The scale used to measure chile pepper piquancy is called the Scoville scale.

    Boing Boing 2009

  • But what this sauce lacked in piquancy, it made up for it in creamy comfort and a taste so smooth I’d always order an extra bowl on the side.

    Sour cream chicken enchiladas recipe | Homesick Texan Homesick Texan 2009

  • My mother, a teacher for nearly twenty years, liked the picture but missed the "piquancy" of the novel.

    There Is No Frigate Like a Book Jaime J. Weinman 2007

  • ¹ Scoville Heat Unit, a system of measurement for establishing the "piquancy" of a chili pepper.

    How Not to Eat a Chili Pepper RICHARD 2007

  • It is true that the curly-leaved endive is at times to be obtained here, but it is extensively cultivated in England, as it is very crisp and tender, while it also possesses a piquancy which is greatly appreciated.

    The Art of Living in Australia 2004

  • It is true that the curly-leaved endive is at times to be obtained here, but it is extensively cultivated in England, as it is very crisp and tender, while it also possesses a piquancy which is greatly appreciated.

    The Art of Living in Australia ; together with three hundred Australian cookery recipes and accessory kitchen information by Mrs. H. Wicken Philip E. Muskett

  • His French name gave a kind of piquancy to his audacity; he was unusual; he was striking.

    The Cathedral Hugh Walpole 1912

  • Indeed, this moral intention, so often idly and offensively put forward by those who are themselves mere pornographers, pervades Restif throughout, and, while it certainly sometimes does carry dulness with it, undoubtedly contributes at others a kind of piquancy, because of its evident sincerity, and the quaint contrast with the subjects the author is handling.

    A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 George Saintsbury 1889

  • To be fair, Lesley does suggest using the juice from pickled beetroot to improve the colour of the soup, which has the virtue of imparting a certain piquancy, but goes against Maria Lemnis' stern prohibition on the use of vinegar in borscht.

    How to cook perfect borscht 2011

  • My friend Del's bison burger was a succulent symphony of robust meat and subtle umami mushrooms and onions wrapped in a crusty flax bun; my Alaskan halibut soft tacos offered a generous portion of firm snowy-white fish uplifted by the creaminess of avocado and tickled by the piquancy of pickled onions, with an undertone of heat that gave me the kick I had been looking for.

    Neil Zevnik: A New Paradigm? Now Serving: A Nice Dose of Healthy and a Healthy Dose of Nice Neil Zevnik 2011

Comments

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  • The piquancy of the evening was refreshing. ~Sera

    Good usage?

    August 15, 2007

  • I'm not so sure it works, but I've only ever heard it in terms of food, so I'm not a great judge.

    August 16, 2007