CAUSTIC


Meaning of CAUSTIC in English

I. ˈkȯstik, -ēk adjective

Etymology: Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos (verbal of kaiein to burn) + -ikos -ic; akin to Lithuanian kulė smut of plants

1. : capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its substance by chemical action : corrosive: as

a. : capable of destroying animal or other organic tissue

silver nitrate and sulfuric acid are caustic agents

b. : strongly alkaline

caustic liquors

caustic lyes

2. : marked by or indicative of tart sharpness ; specifically : characterized by incisive wit

a caustic reply

a bitter, caustic , and backbiting humor — Sir Walter Scott

a caustic and disillusioned satirist, trenchant, arrogant — J.L.Lowes

• caus·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -ēk-, -li or caus·tic·ly -klē, -kli adverb

• caus·tic·ness -tiknə̇s, -tēk- noun -es

II. noun

( -s )

1. : a caustic agent: as

a. : a substance or means that can burn, corrode, or destroy animal or other organic tissue by chemical action : escharotic

b. : caustic alkali

2.

a. : caustic curve

b. : caustic surface

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.