Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: piquer 'to prick, sting'

pique

2 verb
     
pique2
1 [transitive usually passive] to make someone feel annoyed or upset, especially by ignoring them or making them look stupid:
Privately, Zarich was piqued that his offer was rejected.
2

pique your interest/curiosity

especially American English to make you feel interested in something or someone:
She was hostile to him, which piqued his curiosity.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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