/ prəˈvɒkətɪv; NAmE -ˈvɑːkə-/ adjective
1.
intended to make people angry or upset; intended to make people argue about sth :
a provocative remark
He doesn't really mean that—he's just being deliberately provocative.
2.
intended to make sb sexually excited :
a provocative smile
► pro·voca·tive·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French provocatif , -ive , from late Latin provocativus , from provocat- called forth, challenged, from the verb provocare challenge, from pro- forth + vocare to call.