PUNGENCY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pungency mean? 

• PUNGENCY (noun)
  The noun PUNGENCY has 2 senses:

1. wit having a sharp and caustic quality

2. a strong odor or taste property

  Familiarity information: PUNGENCY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUNGENCY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wit having a sharp and caustic quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

bite; pungency

Context example:

the bite of satire

Hypernyms ("pungency" is a kind of...):

humor; humour; wit; witticism; wittiness (a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter)

Derivation:

pungent (capable of wounding)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong odor or taste property

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

bite; pungency; raciness; sharpness

Context example:

the raciness of the wine

Hypernyms ("pungency" is a kind of...):

spice; spicery; spiciness (the property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored)

Derivation:

pungent (strong and sharp)

 Context examples 

Dr Hazarika of the team said, "We are now taking up some scientific works to maintain the original degree of pungency of bhot jolokia which we found eight years back".

(Scientists claim decrease in hotness of Bhut Jolokia, Wikinews)