verb

piquer

sting

C’est quand quelque chose touche la peau et cause une petite douleur, comme une aiguille ou un insecte.

The French verb "piquer" has several meanings and uses depending on the context. Here's an explanation of the word:

To sting / to prick / to poke
- It refers to the action of causing a small, sharp pain or puncture, often by a pointed object or insect.
- Example: Une abeille peut piquer — "A bee can sting."
To steal / to nick (informal)
- In informal spoken French, piquer can mean to steal or take something without permission.
- Example: Il a piqué mon téléphone — "He nicked my phone."
To dye or color (textiles)
- Used somewhat less common, especially in older contexts, to refer to applying color or embroidery.
In cooking: to prick (food)
- To poke holes in food (like puff pastry or potatoes) before baking.

piquer is a regular -er verb.
It follows the conjugation pattern of other -er verbs: piquer, pique, piques, pique, piquons, piquez, piquent.

For the "sting/prick" meaning: piquer can be similar to piqûre (sting, as a noun), or verbs like piquer avec une aiguille (prick with a needle).
For the "steal" meaning (informal): voler, chipper (slang), dérober (formal).

Meaning	Usage	Example
To sting/prick	Sharp pain caused by insect or needle	L'abeille pique.
To steal (informal)	Taking something without permission	Il a piqué mon stylo.
To poke in cooking	Pricking food before baking	Il faut piquer la pâte.

"piquer" is a versatile verb covering physical actions involving sharp objects or informal slang for stealing.