caustic definition |Dictionary.com

Synonyms of caustic

abrasive, acerb, acid, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, alkaline, astringent, biting, bitter, burning, catheretic

Caustic

10 dictionary results for: caustic

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

caus·tic

[kaw-stik] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue.

2.	severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark.

–noun

3.	a caustic substance.

Optics.

a.	caustic curve.

b.	caustic surface.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L causticus < Gk kaustikós burning, caustic, equiv. to kaust(ós) burnt (v. adj. of kaíein to burn) + -ikos -ic

]

—Related forms

caus·ti·cal·ly, caus·tic·ly, adverb

caus·tic·i·ty

[kaw-stis-i-tee] Pronunciation Key, caus·tic·ness, noun

—Synonyms 2. biting, mordant, bitter, scathing, acid.

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

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

caus·tic (kô'stĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.
Corrosive and bitingly trenchant; cutting. See Synonyms at sarcastic.
Causing a burning or stinging sensation, as from intense emotion: "Most of all, there is caustic shame for my own stupidity" (Scott Turow).

A caustic material or substance.
A hydroxide of a light metal.
The enveloping surface formed by light rays reflecting or refracting from a curved surface, especially one with spherical aberration.

[Middle English caustik, from Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos, from kaiein, kau-, to burn.]

caus'ti·cal·ly adv., caus·tic'i·ty (kô-stĭs'ĭ-tē) n.

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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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
caustic

1555, from O.Fr. caustique, from L. causticus, from Gk. kaustikos "capable of burning," from kaustos "combustible," from kaiein, the Gk. word for "to burn" in all periods, of uncertain origin with no known cognates outside Gk. Figurative sense of "sarcastic" is attested from 1771.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

caustic
adjective
1.	harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique"
2.	of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
noun
1.	any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

caustic caus·tic (kô'stĭk)
n.

A hydroxide of a light metal.
A caustic material or substance.

adj.

Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.
Of or relating to light emitted from a point source and reflected or refracted from a curved surface.
Causing a burning or stinging sensation.

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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ¹caus·tic
Pronunciation: 'ko-stik
Function: adjective
: capable of destroying or eating away organic tissue and especiallyanimal tissue by chemical action caustic agents> —caus·ti·cal·ly /-sti-k(&-)lE/ adverb —caus·tic·i·ty /ko-'stis-&t-E/ noun plural -ties

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Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ²caustic
Function: noun
: a caustic agent: as a : a substance that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action : ESCHAROTIC b : SODIUMHYDROXIDE

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

Caustic

Calm\ (k[aum]m), n. [OE. calme, F. calme, fr. It. or Sp. calma (cf. Pg. calma heat), prob. fr. LL. cauma heat, fr. Gr. kay^ma burning heat, fr. kai`ein to burn; either because during a great heat there is generally also a calm, or because the hot time of the day obliges us seek for shade and quiet; cf. Caustic] Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility; stillness; quiet; serenity.

The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. --Mark. iv. 39.

A calm before a storm is commonly a peace of a man's own making. --South.

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

Caustic

Cat`a*caus"tic\, a. [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics) Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. --Nichol.

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