piqueoffend; excite: Her curiosity was piqued.Not to be confused with:peak ? pinnacle; acme; zenith: a mountain peakpeek ? to look or glance quickly or furtively: peek at the presentsAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreepique (p?k)n. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride.tr.v. piqued, piqu·ing, piques 1. To cause to feel resentment or indignation.2. To provoke; arouse: The portrait piqued her curiosity.3. To pride (oneself): He piqued himself on his stylish attire.[French, a prick, irritation, from Old French, from piquer, to prick, from Vulgar Latin *picc?re, ultimately of imitative origin.]pi·qué (p?-k??, p?-)n. A tightly woven fabric with various raised patterns, produced especially by a double warp.[French, past participle of piquer, to quilt, from Old French, to backstitch, prick; see pique.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.pique (pi?k) na feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one’s pride woundedvb (tr) , piques, piquing or piqued1. to cause to feel resentment or irritation2. to excite or arouse3. (foll by: on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself)[C16: from French, from piquer to prick, sting; see pick1]pique (pi?k) piquetn (Card Games) 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 nilvb (Card Games) to score a pique (against)[C17: from French pic, of uncertain origin]piqué (?pi?ke?) n (Textiles) a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs[C19: from French piqué pricked, from piquer to prick]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014pique (pik) v. piqued, piqu?ing, n. v.t. 1. to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, esp. by some wound to pride. 2. to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.). 3. to excite, arouse, or provoke: The remark piqued my curiosity. 4. Archaic. to pride (oneself) (usu. fol. by on or upon). v.i. 5. to arouse pique in someone. n. 6. a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride. [1525?35;