Pungent

Pungent
Pungent Pun"gent, a. [L. pungens, -entis, p. pr. of pungere, punctum, to prick. Cf. {Compunction}, {Expunge}, {Poignant}, {Point}, n., {Puncheon}, {Punctilio}, {Punt}, v. t.] 1. Causing a sharp sensation, as of the taste, smell, or feelings; pricking; biting; acrid; as, a pungent spice. [1913 Webster]

Pungent radish biting infant's tongue. --Shenstone. [1913 Webster]

The pungent grains of titillating dust. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic; stinging. [1913 Webster]

With pungent pains on every side. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

His pungent pen played its part in rousing the nation. --J. R. Green. [1913 Webster]

3. (Bot.) Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen; acrimonious; biting; stinging. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • pungent — pungent, piquant, poignant, racy, spicy, snappy are comparable when they mean characterized by sharpness, zest, and a piercing or gripping quality. Pungent applies especially to a sharp, piercing, stinging, biting, or penetrating quality,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • pungent — [adj1] highly flavored acid, acrid, aromatic, bitter, effluvious, hot, nosey*, odoriferous, peppery, piquant, poignant, racy, rich, salty, seasoned, sharp, snappy, sour, spicy, stinging, stinking*, strong, tangy, tart, whiffy*, zesty; concept 613 …   New thesaurus

  • pungent — [pun′jənt] adj. [L pungens, prp. of pungere, to prick, puncture: see POINT] 1. producing a sharp sensation of taste and smell; acrid 2. sharp and piercing to the mind; poignant; painful 3. sharply penetrating; expressive; biting [pungent… …   English World dictionary

  • pungent — index bitter (acrid tasting), caustic, incisive, mordacious, trenchant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pungent — 1590s, sharp, poignant (of pain or grief), from L. pungentem (nom. pungens), prp. of pungere to prick, pierce, sting, related to pugnus fist (see PUGNACIOUS (Cf. pugnacious)). Meaning having powerful odor or taste first recorded 1660s. Literal… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pungent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having a sharply strong taste or smell. 2) (of remarks or humour) sharp and caustic. DERIVATIVES pungency noun pungently adverb. ORIGIN from Latin pungere to prick …   English terms dictionary

  • pungent — adjective Etymology: Latin pungent , pungens, present participle of pungere to prick, sting; akin to Latin pugnus fist, pugnare to fight, Greek pygmē fist Date: 1597 1. sharply painful 2. having a stiff and sharp point < pungent leaves > 3. a.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pungent — [[t]pʌ̱nʤ(ə)nt[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant. The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be. ...the pungent smell of burning rubber. Syn …   English dictionary

  • pungent — pun|gent [ˈpʌndʒənt] adj [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , present participle of pungere to prick, sting ] 1.) having a strong taste or smell pungent smell/aroma/odour etc ▪ the pungent odour of garlic 2.) formal pungent speech or writing is… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • pungent — adjective 1 a pungent taste or smell is strong and sharp: the pungent aroma of garlic 2 pungent remarks or writing criticize something in a very direct and clever way: a few typically pungent remarks from Senator Moynihan pungently adverb… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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