CAUSTIC

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does caustic mean? 

• CAUSTIC (noun)
  The noun CAUSTIC has 1 sense:

1. any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

  Familiarity information: CAUSTIC used as a noun is very rare.

• CAUSTIC (adjective)
  The adjective CAUSTIC has 2 senses:

1. harsh or corrosive in tone
2. of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

  Familiarity information: CAUSTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAUSTIC (noun)

Meaning:

Any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("caustic" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "caustic"):

lye (a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide)

silver nitrate (a nitrate used in making photographic emulsions; also used in medicine as a cautery and as a topical antibacterial agent)

• CAUSTIC (adjective)

Meaning:

Harsh or corrosive in tone

Synonyms:

caustic; blistering; vitriolic; acid; acerbic; acerb; sulfurous; sulphurous; venomous; acrid; bitter; virulent

Context examples:

an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose / a barrage of acid comments / her acrid remarks make her many enemies / bitter words / blistering criticism / caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics / a sulfurous denunciation / a vitriolic critique

Similar:

unpleasant (disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings)

Meaning:

Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

Synonyms:

corrosive; caustic; erosive; mordant; vitriolic

Similar:

destructive (causing destruction or much damage)