Definition

Noun: 1. The quality of being agreeably stimulating or mentally exciting: A state or characteristic of being pleasantly interesting, provocative, or engaging to the mind or senses. 2. A tart spicy quality: A sharp, pleasantly biting, or tangy flavor, often associated with certain foods or spices.

Usage Examples

• Mental Stimulation:
  • The piquance of the novel's plot kept readers eagerly turning the pages.
  • Her lecture lacked piquance; it was informative but dull.
• Tangy Flavor:
  • The piquance of the fresh salsa came from the lime juice and cilantro.
  • A dash of vinegar adds the necessary piquance to the sauce.

Advanced Usage

• "To lend piquance to": To add an element of interest or a tangy flavor to something.
  • The unexpected twist at the end lent piquance to the entire story.
  • A squeeze of lemon lends piquance to the simple grilled fish.

Variants and Related Words

• Piquant (adj): Having a pleasantly sharp or appetizing flavor; stimulatingly interesting.
  • The salad was dressed with a piquant vinaigrette.
  • She made a piquant observation about the political situation.
• Piquancy (n): An alternative, more common noun form with identical meaning to "piquance."

Synonyms

• For mental stimulation: Zest, pungency, bite, sharpness, provocativeness.
• For flavor: Tang, zest, spiciness, sharpness, bite.

Noun

1. the quality of being agreeably stimulating or mentally exciting
2. a tart spicy quality