Caution - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cau·tion

Audio Help [kaw-shuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.

2.	a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.

3.	Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension: She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME caucion < L cautiōn- (s. of cautiō) a taking care, equiv. to caut(us), ptp. of cavére to guard against (cau- take care, guard + -tus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion

]

—Related forms

cau·tion·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. circumspection, discretion, watchfulness, heed, vigilance. 2. admonition, advice, counsel. 4. admonish, forewarn. See warn.

—Antonyms 1. carelessness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Caution

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cau·tion Audio Help (kô'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Careful forethought to avoid danger or harm.
2. Close attention or vigilance to minimize risk: The car proceeded over the rickety bridge with caution.
Prudence or restraint in action or decision: advised caution in choosing a school.
A warning or admonishment, especially to take heed: I received a caution from the doctor about fat in my diet.
A cautious action; a precaution: The climbers took the necessary cautions in preparing for the ascent.
Informal One that is striking or alarming.

tr.v. cau·tioned, cau·tion·ing, cau·tions
To advise to take heed; warn or admonish.

[Middle English caucioun, from Old French caution, from Latin cautiō, cautiōn-, from cautus, past participle of cavēre, to take care.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
caution (n.)

1297, "bail, guarantee, pledge," from O.Fr., "security, surety," from L. cautionem (nom. cautio), from cautus pp. of cavere "to be on one's guard" (see caveat). The Latin sense re-emerged in Eng. 16c.-17c. The verb sense of "to warn" is from 1641; cautious is from 1640.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

caution
noun
1.	the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution" [ant: incaution]
2.	a warning against certain acts; "a caveat against unfair practices"
3.	judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger; "he exercised caution in opening the door"; "he handled the vase with care"
4.	the trait of being circumspect and prudent [syn: circumspection]
verb
1.	warn strongly; put on guard

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

caution

see throw caution to the winds.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
caution1 [ˈkoːʃən] noun

carefulness (because of possible danger etc)
Example: Exercise caution when crossing this road.

Arabic:	احْتِراسٌ، حَذَرٌ
Chinese (Simplified):	小心
Chinese (Traditional):	小心
Czech:	opatrnost
Danish:	forsigtighed
Dutch:	voorzichtigheid
Estonian:	ettevaatus
Finnish:	varovaisuus
French:	prudence
German:	die Vorsicht
Greek:	προσοχή, προφύλαξη
Hungarian:	óvatosság
Icelandic:	gætni, varfærni
Indonesian:	berhati-hati
Italian:	cautela, prudenza

Japanese:	用心
Korean:	조심
Latvian:	piesardzība
Lithuanian:	atsargumas
Norwegian:	forsiktighet, varsomhet
Polish:	ostrożność
Portuguese (Brazil):	cuidado
Portuguese (Portugal):	cuidado
Romanian:	prudenţă
Russian:	осторожность
Slovak:	opatrnosť
Slovenian:	previdnost
Spanish:	cautela, precaución, prudencia
Swedish:	försiktighet
Turkish:	dikkat, özen, ihtimam

caution2 [ˈkoːʃən] noun

in law, a warning
Example: The policeman gave him a caution for speeding.

Arabic:	تَحْذيرٌ
Chinese (Simplified):	警告
Chinese (Traditional):	警告
Czech:	varování, výstraha
Danish:	advarsel
Dutch:	waarschuwing
Estonian:	hoiatus
Finnish:	varoitus
French:	avertissement
German:	die Warnung
Greek:	σύσταση
Hungarian:	figyelmeztetés
Icelandic:	áminning
Indonesian:	peringatan
Italian:	avvertimento, ammonimento

Japanese:	警告
Korean:	경고
Latvian:	brīdinājums
Lithuanian:	įspėjimas
Norwegian:	advarsel
Polish:	ostrzeżenie
Portuguese (Brazil):	advertência
Portuguese (Portugal):	repreensão
Romanian:	avertisment
Russian:	предупреждение
Slovak:	výstraha
Slovenian:	opomin
Spanish:	advertencia
Swedish:	varning, tillrättavisning
Turkish:	uyarı, ikaz

caution [ˈkoːʃən] verb

to give a warning to
Example: He was cautioned for drunken driving.

Arabic:	يُحَذِّرُ
Chinese (Simplified):	警告
Chinese (Traditional):	警告
Czech:	varovat
Danish:	advare
Dutch:	waarschuwen
Estonian:	hoiatust tegema
Finnish:	varoittaa
French:	avertir
German:	(ver-)warnen
Greek:	προειδοποιώ
Hungarian:	figyelmeztet
Icelandic:	áminna
Indonesian:	memperingatkan
Italian:	avvertire

Japanese:	警告する
Korean:	경고하다
Latvian:	brīdināt
Lithuanian:	įspėti
Norwegian:	advare, bli advart
Polish:	ostrzegać
Portuguese (Brazil):	advertir
Portuguese (Portugal):	repreender
Romanian:	a avertiza
Russian:	делать предупреждение
Slovak:	varovať
Slovenian:	opomniti
Spanish:	advertir
Swedish:	varna, tillrättavisa
Turkish:	uymak, ikaz etmek

See also: cautious

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Caution

Cau"tion\, n. [F. caution a security, L. cautio, fr. cavere (For scavere) to be on one's guard, to take care (orig.) to be on the watch, see; akin to E. show.]

1. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.

2. Security; guaranty; bail. [R.]

The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted. --Clarendon.

3. Precept or warning against evil of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction.

In way of caution I must tell you. --Shak.

Caution money, money deposited by way of security or guaranty, as by a student at an English university.

Syn: Care; forethought; forecast; heed; prudence; watchfulness; vigilance; circumspection; anxiety; providence; counsel; advice; warning; admonition.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Caution

Cau"tion\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cautioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cautioning.] To give notice of danger to; to warn; to exhort [one] to take heed.

You cautioned me against their charms. --Swift.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Caution

Cau"tious\, a. [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See Caution.] Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general.

Cautious feeling for another's pain. --Byron.

Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. --Watts.

Syn: Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet; heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful.

Usage: Cautious, Wary, Circumspect. A man is cautious who realizes the constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

CAUTION

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