caustic

caustic
caustic c.1400, from O.Fr. caustique, from L. causticus "burning, caustic," from Gk. kaustikos "capable of burning," from kaustos "combustible," from kaiein, the Greek word for "to burn" (trans. and intrans.) in all periods, of uncertain origin with no certain cognates outside Greek. Figurative sense of "sarcastic" is attested from 1771.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Caustic — Caus tic, Caustical Caus tic*al, a. [L. caustucs, Ge. ?, fr. ? to burn. Cf. {Calm}, {Ink}.] 1. Capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its substance by chemical action; burning; corrosive; searing. [1913 Webster] 2. Severe;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Caustic — may refer to: * Causticity, the property of a substance that causes corrosion ** Sodium hydroxide, sometimes called caustic soda ** Potassium hydroxide, sometimes called caustic potash ** Calcium oxide, sometimes called caustic lime * Caustic… …   Wikipedia

  • caustic — CAÚSTIC, Ă, caustici, ce, adj., s.f. 1. adj. (Despre substanţe chimice) Care arde, distruge ţesutul animal şi vegetal. ♢ Sodă caustică = hidrat de sodiu cristalizat, cu multe întrebuinţări în industrie. 2. adj. fig. Muşcător, satiric. 3. s.f.… …   Dicționar Român

  • caustic — caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing are comparable when they mean stingingly incisive. Caustic usually implies a biting wit, a ready tongue or pen, and the power to drive disagreeable truths home { I really do not know what to do with my books, he… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Caustic — Cau stic, n. [L. causticum (sc. medicamentum). See {Caustic}, a.] 1. Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic. [1913 Webster] 2. (Optics) A caustic… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caustic — [kôs′tik] adj. [ME caustik < L causticus < Gr kaustikos < kaustos, burning < kaiein, to burn] 1. that can burn, eat away, or destroy tissue by chemical action; corrosive 2. cutting or sarcastic in utterance; biting 3. designating or… …   English World dictionary

  • caustic — [adj1] burning, corrosive abrasive, acerbic, acid, acrid, alkaline, astringent, biting, corroding, erosive, keen, mordant, pungent, tart; concept 485 Ant. calm, mild, soothing caustic [adj2] sarcastic acerb, acerbic, acrimonious, bitter, cutting …   New thesaurus

  • caustic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action. 2) scathingly sarcastic. ► NOUN ▪ a caustic substance. DERIVATIVES caustically adverb. ORIGIN Greek kaustikos, from kaustos combustible …   English terms dictionary

  • Caustic — Caustic. См. Каустик. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • caustic — I adjective abrasive, abrupt, acerbus, acrid, acrimonious, acute, astringent, austere, biting, brash, burning, corroding, corrosive, cruel, curt, cutting, derisive, derisory, envenomed, erosive, excorciating, excruciating, harsh, hurtful,… …   Law dictionary

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