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Pique: meaning, definitions and examples

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pique

 

[ piːk ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

interest awakening

To pique means to stimulate or provoke interest or curiosity in someone. It is often used when discussing feelings of intrigue that are aroused by something interesting or unexpected.

Synonyms

arouse, engage, stimulate

Examples of usage

  • The novel's intriguing plot piqued my curiosity.
  • Her presentation was designed to pique the audience's interest.
  • The discovery of the ancient artifact piqued the archaeologists' excitement.
Context #2 | Noun

feelings of annoyance

Pique can also refer to a feeling of irritation or resentment, often as a result of perceived slight or insult. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels offended or slighted.

Synonyms

irritation, offense, resentment

Examples of usage

  • He left in a fit of pique after being criticized.
  • Her comment caused great pique among the group.
  • The incident was forgotten quickly, but the pique lingered.

Translations

Translations of the word "pique" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pique

🇮🇳 चिढ़ाना

🇩🇪 stich

🇮🇩 menusuk

🇺🇦 пік

🇵🇱 szpik

🇯🇵 ピケ

🇫🇷 piquer

🇪🇸 pica

🇹🇷 dikkatini çekmek

🇰🇷 찌르다

🇸🇦 يقرص

🇨🇿 píchnout

🇸🇰 pichnúť

🇨🇳 刺

🇸🇮 pik

🇮🇸 stinga

🇰🇿 шоқы

🇬🇪 ჩხვლიტი

🇦🇿 iynə

🇲🇽 pique

Etymology

The word 'pique' is derived from the French word 'piquer', which means 'to prick' or 'to sting.' The usage of 'pique' to describe stimulating interest dates back to the late 19th century, where it transitioned from its more literal sense of provoking a physical reaction to a metaphorical sense of awakening curiosity. The evolution of the word is indicative of the ways emotions and physical sensations have been interconnected in language. Additionally, the noun form related to annoyance comes from the same French root, reflecting how feelings can be 'pricked' by others' words or actions. Over time, 'pique' has found its place in English literature, demonstrating the language's ability to adopt and adapt terms from other languages, enriching its expressive capacity.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,571, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.