Racy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹeɪsi/

Definitions

1. Marked by a spirited and suggestive quality that intrigues the audience
2. Having a somewhat provocative or mildly improper character that captures interest ; lively and energetic in expression or style
3. Displaying a hint of boldness or suggestiveness that may challenge propriety ; characterized by an enthusiastic or spirited nature

Etymology: "Racy" began as a word about wine and fruit. The noun "race" in its older sense meant a distinctive flavour or quality, especially one that a wine or fruit took from the soil or place where it grew, and an adjective built on it described a taste with that sharp, characteristic tang. Adding the suffix "-y" turned the noun into an adjective meaning having that particular taste. Over time the sense moved from flavour to character. A racy wine was one with a lively, distinctive bite, and that liveliness was gradually applied to people, conversation and writing. The modern meaning, spirited and suggestively daring, grew out of that idea of a sharp, bracing quality that catches the palate, or the attention, and holds it.

Synonyms: vivid, lively, spicy, risqué, colorful

Antonyms: bland, boring, tame, dull, unexciting