ACID


Meaning of ACID in English

/ ˈæsɪd; NAmE / noun , adjective

■ noun

1.

[ U , C ] ( chemistry ) a chemical, usually a liquid, that contains hydrogen and has a pH of less than seven. The hydrogen can be replaced by a metal to form a salt. Acids are usually sour and can often burn holes in or damage things they touch.

—compare alkali

—see also acetic acid , amino acid , ascorbic acid , citric acid , hydrochloric acid , lactic acid , nitric acid , nucleic acid , sulphuric acid

2.

[ U ] ( slang ) = LSD

■ adjective

1.

( technical ) that contains acid or has the essential characteristics of an acid; that has a pH of less than seven :

Rye is tolerant of poor, acid soils.

—compare alkaline

2.

that has a bitter sharp taste

SYN sour :

acid fruit

➡ note at bitter

3.

( of a person's remarks ) critical and unkind

SYN sarcastic , cutting :

an acid wit

••

WORD ORIGIN

early 17th cent. (in the sense sour-tasting ): from Latin acidus , from acere be sour.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.