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Definition of provocative - 5 dictionary results

pro⋅voc⋅a⋅tive

  [pruh-vok-uh-tiv]
Use provocative in a Sentence
–adjective
1. tending or serving to provoke; inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing.
–noun
2. something provocative.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < LL prōvocātīvus. See provocation, -ive

Related forms:
pro⋅voc⋅a⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
pro⋅voc⋅a⋅tive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To provocative
pro·voc·a·tive   (prə-vŏk'ə-tĭv)   
adj.  Tending to provoke or stimulate.
pro·voc'a·tive n., pro·voc'a·tive·ly adv., pro·voc'a·tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Provocative

Pro*vo"ca*tive\, a. [L. provocativus: cf. OF. provocatif.] Serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; exciting.

Provocative

Pro*vo"ca*tive\, n. Anything that is provocative; a stimulant; as, a provocative of appetite.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : provocative
Spanish: provocador; (sexual) provocativo,
German: aufreizend,
Japanese: 刺激的な
More Translations »

Main Entry: pro·voc·a·tive
Pronunciation: pr&-'väk-&t-iv
Function: adjective
: serving or tending to provoke, excite, orstimulate <provocative test for coronary spasm —Journal of the American Medical Association>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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