CAUSTIC


Meaning of CAUSTIC in English

[ 'kɔ:stɪk , 'kɒst- ]

■ adjective

1》 able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

2》 scathingly sarcastic.

3》 Physics formed by the intersection of reflected or refracted parallel rays from a curved surface.

■ noun

1》 a ~ substance.

2》 Physics a ~ surface or curve.

Derivatives

~ally adverb

~ity noun

Origin

ME: via L. from Gk kaustikos , from kaustos 'combustible', from kaiein 'to burn'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.