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View synonyms for

caustic

[kaw-stik]

adjective

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

  2. severely critical or sarcastic.

    a caustic remark.

    Synonyms: , , , ,


noun

  1. a caustic substance.

  2. Optics.

    1. caustic curve.

    2. caustic surface.

caustic

/ ˈkɔːstɪk, kɔːˈstɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. capable of burning or corroding by chemical action

    caustic soda

  2. sarcastic; cutting

    a caustic reply

  3. of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. Also called: caustic surface.a surface that envelops the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface

  2. Also called: caustic curve.a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane

  3. chem a caustic substance, esp an alkali

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • caustically adverb
  • causticly adverb
  • causticity noun
  • causticness noun
  • noncaustic adjective
  • noncaustically adverb
  • overcaustic adjective
  • overcaustically adverb
  • overcausticity noun
  • uncaustic adjective
  • uncaustically adverb
  • ˈܲپ adjective
  • ˈܲپly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caustic1

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin causticus < Greek 첹ܲپó burning, caustic, equivalent to kaust ( ó ) burnt (verbal adjective of 첹í𾱲 to burn) + -ikos -ic
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caustic1

C14: from Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With Franzen-esque fastidiousness, Choi unpacks each character’s backstory, exposing vanities and delusions in a cool, caustic voice, a 21st century Émile Zola.

From

Thewlis, who has the ranginess and sharp profile one associates with the character, is a fine Holmes, caustic with a comic edge, and Hunt holds her own as his problematic partner.

From

Balancing this is the show’s caustic tut-tutting at materialists for wanting these baubles in the first place.

From

In their oral arguments, the attorneys refrained from repeating some caustic language from their written briefs.

From

"We have the means to limit the spread by... burying them with caustic soda."

From

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