different between provocative vs spicy

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/

Adjective

provocative (comparative more provocative, superlative most provocative)

1. Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
2. Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Related terms

• provoke
• provocation
• provocator

Related terms

• provocateur

Translations

Noun

provocative (plural provocatives)

1. (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac. [from 15th c.]
   • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:

     She used by way of Provocative, to read the wanton Verses of her Paramour in the day time [...].

Latin

Adjective

pr?voc?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of pr?voc?t?vus

English

Alternative forms

• spicey

Etymology

From spice +? -y, attested since the 16th century.

Adjective

spicy (comparative spicier, superlative spiciest)

1. Of, pertaining to, or containing spice.

   He prepared a spicy casserole.

2. (of flavors) Provoking a burning sensation due to the presence of chilis or similar hot spices

   This curry is too spicy for me. I can't eat it.

3. (of flavors or odors) Tangy, zesty, or pungent.

   She breathed in the strong, spicy aroma.

4. (of expression or behavior) Vigorous; colorful; stimulating.

   He is known for his spicy political commentary.

5. Risqué, sexy, racy; mildly pornographic.

   I don't want my children to see the spicy images on this web site.

Synonyms

• (provoking a burning sensation): hot, spicy-hot, piquant

Translations

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “spicy”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language
• “spicy” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• "spicy" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
• “spicy”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• Oxford English Dictionary, second edition (1989)
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary (1987-1996)

Lower Sorbian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp?it?s?/

Adjective

spicy

1. sleeping, asleep
2. dormant (e.g. of a volcano)

Declension

Participle

spicy

1. past active participle of spa?

Declension

Synonyms

• spijucy

References

• spicy in Ernst Muka/Mucke (St. Petersburg and Prague 1911–28): S?ownik dolnoserbskeje r?cy a jeje nar?cow / Wörterbuch der nieder-wendischen Sprache und ihrer Dialekte. Reprinted 2008, Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag
• spicy in Manfred Starosta (1999): Dolnoserbsko-nimski s?ownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag.