pique
Use Pique in a sentence
verb (used with object)
1.
to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, especially by some wound to pride: She was greatly piqued when they refused her invitation.
2.
to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.).
3.
to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.): Her curiosity was piqued by the gossip.
4.
to arouse an emotion or provoke to action: to pique someone to answer a challenge.
5.
Archaic. to pride (oneself) (usually followed by on or upon ).
verb (used without object)
6.
to arouse pique in someone: an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.
00:10
Pique
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is artless. Does it mean:
| free from deceit or cunning; natural, simple, uncontrived |
| ostentatious in one's learning |
noun
7.
a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride or self-esteem: to be in a pique.
8.
Obsolete. a state of irritated feeling between persons.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a fabric of cotton, spun rayon, or silk, woven lengthwise with raised cords.
2.
Ballet. a step in which the dancer steps onto the tip of the toe without bending the knee.
3.
ornamentation by means of punched or stippled patterns, sometimes inlaid with metal, ivory, tortoise shell, etc.
adjective
4.
(of glove seams and gloves) stitched through lapping edges.
5.
decorated with inlay: a piqué box.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To pique
Collins
World English Dictionary
pique1 (piːk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded |
| —vb (foll by on | |
| 2. | to cause to feel resentment or irritation |
| 3. | to excite or arouse |
| 4. | to pride or congratulate (oneself) |
| [C16: from French, from piquer to prick, sting; see | |
| pique2 (piːk) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a score of 30 points made by a player from a combination of cards held before play begins and from play while his opponent's score is nil |
| —vb | |
| 2. | to score a pique (against) |
| [C17: from French pic, of uncertain origin] | |
| piqué (ˈpiːkeɪ) | |
| —n | |
| a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs | |
| [C19: from French piqué pricked, from piquer to prick] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
pique
1532, "fit of ill feeling," from M.Fr. pique "a prick, sting, irritation," from O.Fr. (see pike (2)). The verb, in the sense of "to excite to anger" is attested from 1671.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
They didn't argue back-they recoiled with pique and contempt.
In a final fit of pique Sarah had all the fixtures and fittings removed from her apartments in the royal household.
And before you denounce me as a heretic and slam your computer shut in a fit of pique, hear me out on this one.
There have always been a few people whose pride and vanity is inseparable from their public displays of pique.
Matching Quote
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
