caustic
pronunciation
How to pronounce caustic in British English:
UK [ˈkɔːstɪk]
How to pronounce caustic in American English:
US [ˈkɔːstɪk]
-
- Noun:
- any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
-
- Adjective:
- harsh or corrosive in tone
- of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
Word Origin
- caustic
- caustic: see holocaust
- caustic (adj.)
- c. 1400, "burning, corrosive," from Latin causticus "burning, caustic," from Greek kaustikos "capable of burning; corrosive," from kaustos "combustible; burnt," verbal adjective from kaiein, the Greek word for "to burn" (transitive and intransitive) in all periods, which is of uncertain origin with no certain cognates outside Greek. Figurative sense of "sarcastic" is attested from 1771. As a noun, early 15c., from the adjective.
Synonym
nipping sharp-tongued trenchant bitter mordant harsh acidulous astringent keen austere slashing virulent stringent pungent tart stern sharp biting acid acrimonious cutting acrid severe stinging incisive
Example
- 1. Why are caustic co-workers so unhealthy ?
- 2. That invited criticism , and sometimes caustic caricature .
- 3. The same can be said of conrad black , the canadian employer of the caustic major-doubters in the telegraph group .
- 4. It was energetically publicised ( albeit in caustic terms ) by two salafist ( hardline islamist ) television channels .
- 5. But toxic elements , such as brominated flame retardants and lead in circuit boards , batteries and other components , along with caustic acids and burning methods used to dismantle the old electronics , pose serious environmental and health risks for the communities that subsist on the e-waste industry .