caus|tic

caus|tic
caus|tic «KS tihk», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. that burns or destroys flesh; corrosive. Lye is caustic soda or caustic potash.
2. Figurative. very critical or sarcastic; stinging; biting: »

The speaker gave a caustic answer to the man who interrupted with a silly question. The coach's caustic remarks made the football players angry.

 SYNONYM(S): satirical, mordant, scathing.
3. in optics: a) of or denoting a curved surface to which are tangent all the rays of light proceeding from a fixed point and reflected or refracted by a curved surface. A caustic surface by reflection is called a catacaustic surface; that by refraction a diacaustic surface. b) of or denoting the curve formed by a plane section of such a surface.
–n.
1. a substance that burns or destroys flesh; corrosive substance: »

My warts were burned away by the caustic put on them.

2. (in optics) a caustic curve or surface.
╂[< Latin causticus < Greek kaustikós < kaíein burn]
–caus´ti|cal|ly, adverb.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • caus|tic|i|ty — «ks TIHS uh tee», noun. 1. caustic quality. 2. a burning, pungent taste. 3. the property of destroying or corroding organic tissue …   Useful english dictionary

  • caus·tic — …   Useful english dictionary

  • cat|a|caus|tic — «KAT uh KS tihk», adjective, noun. in optics: –adj. having to do with caustic curves formed by reflected light. –n. a caustic curve formed by the reflection of the rays of light. ╂[< cata back, again + Greek kaustikós burning, caustic (from… …   Useful english dictionary

  • di|a|caus|tic — «DY uh KS tihk», adjective, noun. Optics. –adj. (of a surface or curve) formed by the intersection of refracted rays of light. –n. a diacaustic curve or surface. ╂[< dia across + caustic] …   Useful english dictionary

  • en|caus|tic — «ehn KS tihk», noun, adjective. –n. 1. the method or art of burning in colors, especially in painting and decorating, by mixing the colors with wax and then applying heat. 2. a painting or decorative object produced by this method. –adj. prepared …   Useful english dictionary

  • hol|o|caus|tic — «HOL uh KS tihk», adjective. belonging to or like a holocaust …   Useful english dictionary

  • caus´ti|cal|ly — caus|tic «KS tihk», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. that burns or destroys flesh; corrosive. Lye is caustic soda or caustic potash. 2. Figurative. very critical or sarcastic; stinging; biting: »The speaker gave a caustic answer to the man who… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tic — ace·tic; ace·to·ace·tic; ach·er·on·tic; achres·tic; ach·ro·ma·tic·i·ty; acys·tic; adi·ag·nos·tic; aero·elas·tic; aero·tac·tic; agres·tic; alan·tic; al·bi·nis·tic; al·che·mis·tic; al·lo·cryp·tic; al·lo·plas·tic; al·lo·plas·tic·i·ty; al·tru·is·tic; …   English syllables

  • caus — cata·caus·tic; caus·a·ble; caus·er; caus·tic·i·ty; caus·ti·ci·za·tion; caus·ti·cize; caus·ti·ciz·er; con·caus·al; caus·al; caus·a·tive; caus·tic; dia·caus·tic; en·caus·tic; caus·al·ly; caus·a·tive·ly; caus·a·tiv·i·ty; caus·ti·cal·ly; caus·tic·ly; …   English syllables

  • caustic — caus·tic …   English syllables

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