pique

1
[ peek ]
See synonyms for pique on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),piqued, piqu·ing.
  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.).

  1. to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.): Her curiosity was piqued by the gossip.

  2. to arouse an emotion or provoke to action: to pique someone to answer a challenge.

  3. Archaic. to pride (oneself) (usually followed by on or upon).

verb (used without object),piqued, piqu·ing.
  1. to arouse pique in someone: an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.

noun
  1. a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride or self-esteem: to be in a pique.

  2. Obsolete. a state of irritated feeling between persons.

Origin of pique

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French pique (noun), piquer (verb), from Vulgar Latin piccare (unrecorded) “to pick”; cf. pick1, pike2

Other words for pique

Opposites for pique

Words that may be confused with pique

Other definitions for pique (2 of 3)

pique2
[ peek ]

nounPiquet.

Other definitions for piqué (3 of 3)

piqué
[ pi-key, pee-; French pee-key ]

noun,plural pi·qués [pi-keyz, pee-; French pee-key] /pɪˈkeɪz, pi-; French piˈkeɪ/ for 2.
  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.

  1. ornamentation by means of punched or stippled patterns, sometimes inlaid with metal, ivory, tortoise shell, etc.

adjective
  1. (of glove seams and gloves) stitched through lapping edges.

  2. decorated with inlay: a piqué box.

Origin of piqué

3
First recorded in 1830–40; from French, past participle of piquer “to quilt, prick”; see pique1
  • Also pi·que [pi-key, pee-;] /pɪˈkeɪ, pi-;/ .

Words that may be confused with piqué

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pique in a sentence

  • Elisabetta Piqué, who knew Bergoglio well as a cardinal, writes in the present tense as if to convey real time passing.

  • She had a graceful figure, and the slender foot below her white piqué skirt was at once the envy and admiration of Aix-les-Bains.

  • It was a little trim delft-blue linen frock with a white piqué collar and a loose blue tie.

    Making Both Ends Meet | Sue Ainslie Clark and Edith Wyatt
  • Piqué is a heavy cotton material woven in corded or figured effects.

    Textiles | William H. Dooley
  • Doubly difficult if one were perched upon a sharp-angled cube, and one's piqué skirt was stiffly starched.

    The Brass Bound Box | Evelyn Raymond
  • Those of grey jade are often piqué with gold, others, of ivory, being inlaid with jewels.

    Chats on Household Curios | Fred W. Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for pique (1 of 3)

pique1

/ (piːk) /


noun
  1. a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded

verbpiques, piquing or piqued (tr)
  1. to cause to feel resentment or irritation

  2. to excite or arouse

  1. (foll by on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

Origin of pique

1
C16: from French, from piquer to prick, sting; see pick 1

British Dictionary definitions for pique (2 of 3)

pique2

/ (piːk) piquet /


noun
  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

verb
  1. to score a pique (against)

Origin of pique

2
C17: from French pic, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for piqué (3 of 3)

piqué

/ (ˈpiːkeɪ) /


noun
  1. a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs

Origin of piqué

3
C19: from French piqué pricked, from piquer to prick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012