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Acrid

 - 5 dictionary results

ac⋅rid

  [ak-rid]
Use Acrid in a Sentence
–adjective
1. sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose, etc.: acrid smoke from burning rubber.
2. extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; exceedingly caustic: acrid remarks.
Origin:
1705–15; < L ācr- (s. of ācer) sharp, sour + -id 4 , perh. through influence of acid

Related forms:
a⋅crid⋅i⋅ty  [uh-krid-i-tee] , ac⋅rid⋅ness, noun
ac⋅rid⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Acrid
ac·rid   (āk'rĭd)   
adj.  

  1. Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell. See Synonyms at bitter.

  2. Caustic in language or tone.


[From Latin ācer, sharp (probably modeled on acid); see ak- in Indo-European roots.]
a·crid'i·ty (ə-krĭd'ĭ-tē), ac'rid·ness n., ac'rid·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

acrid 
1712, from L. acer (fem. acris) "sharp, pungent, bitter, eager, fierce," from PIE *ak-ri-, from base *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce" (cf. Oscan acrid "sharply;" Gk. akis "sharp point," akros "at the farthest point, highest, pointed," akantha "thorn," akme "summit, edge;" also oxys "sharp, bitter;" Skt. acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow," asrih "edge;" Lith. asmuo "sharpness," akstis "sharp stick;" O.Ir. er "high;" Welsh ochr "edge, corner, border;" O.N. eggja "goad;" O.E. ecg "sword"). The -id suffix probably is in imitation of acid.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ac·rid
Pronunciation: 'ak-r&d
Function: adjective
: irritatingly sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor —ac·rid·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

acrid ac·rid (āk'rĭd)
adj.
Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell.

a·crid'i·ty (ə-krĭd'ĭ-tē) or ac'rid·ness n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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