There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.
PUNGENT
barbed, biting, nipping, pungent, mordacious
(adjective) capable of wounding; “a barbed compliment”; “a biting aphorism”; “pungent satire”
pungent, acrid
(adjective) strong and sharp; “the pungent taste of radishes”; “the acrid smell of burning rubber”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
pungent (comparative more pungent, superlative most pungent)
Having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.
Having a strong taste that stings the tongue, said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.
(figurative) Stinging; acerbic.
(botany) Having a sharp and stiff point.
Source: Wiktionary
Pun"gent, a. Etym: [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. Pungent radish biting infant's tongue. Shenstone. The pungent grains of titillating dust. Pope.
2. Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic; stinging. With pungent pains on every side. Swift. His pungent pen played its part in rousing the nation. J. R. Green.
3. (Bot.)
Definition: Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp.
Syn.
– Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen; acrimonious; biting; stinging.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
2 July 2025
RESTITUTION
(noun) getting something back again; “upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing”
Coffee Trivia
