provocative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   exciting sexual desire

   My gestures and postures became more wanton and provocative.

2. 2
   adj

   Provoking or triggering any response.

   [I]t is a terrible long and slippery descent, and a shocking bad road. At the bottom, however, there is a pleasant public; whereat we must really take a modest quencher, for the down air is provocative of thirst.

3. 3
   noun

   Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac.

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

4. 4
   adj

   serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate

5. 5
   adj

   Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.

6. 6
   adj

   Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Etymology

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