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causticity

 - 4 dictionary results

caus⋅tic

  [kaw-stik]
Use causticity in a Sentence
–adjective
1. capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue.
2. severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark.
–noun
3. a caustic substance.
4. 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] , caus⋅tic⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. biting, mordant, bitter, scathing, acid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To causticity
caus·tic   (kô'stĭk)   
adj.  

  1. Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.

  2. Corrosive and bitingly trenchant; cutting. See Synonyms at sarcastic.

  3. Causing a burning or stinging sensation, as from intense emotion: "Most of all, there is caustic shame for my own stupidity" (Scott Turow).

n.  

  1. A caustic material or substance.

  2. A hydroxide of a light metal.

  3. 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.
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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2caustic
Function: noun
: a caustic agent: as a : a substance that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action : ESCHAROTIC b : SODIUMHYDROXIDE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

caustic caus·tic (kô'stĭk)
n.

  1. A hydroxide of a light metal.

  2. A caustic material or substance.

adj.

  1. Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.

  2. Of or relating to light emitted from a point source and reflected or refracted from a curved surface.

  3. Causing a burning or stinging sensation.

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