Both Uses of
pungent
in
A Great and Terrible Beauty
- Tears sting at my eyes from the pungency, but at least I'm breathing again.†
Chpt 13 *
- Underneath the memories is something pungent, like meat rotting in the sun.†
Chpt 36
Definition:
strong smelling or tasting
or much more rarely: anything sharp, painful, or penetrating -- physically or emotionally
or much more rarely: anything sharp, painful, or penetrating -- physically or emotionally
In reference to taste or smell, pungent is more often associated with a strong flavor than a particular flavor. Some associate it with a high level of volatile acidity. Some wine connoisseurs interchange the word pungent with earthy.