adj
caustic
KAWS-tihk
Caustic (adj) means Capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material. Example: “Caustic soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin.”
adj
1
Capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material.
"Caustic soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin."
2
Harshly sarcastic or biting in tone.
"His caustic wit made him a feared critic."
"She responded with a caustic remark that silenced the room."
How to use caustic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally corrosive (a chemical) or figuratively cutting and sarcastic (a remark or person).
Common pairings
caustic soda
caustic humor
caustic remark
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Word forms
- Plural
- caustics
- Comparative
- more caustic
- Superlative
- most caustic
Fill the gap
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_____ soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin.
Etymology
From Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, "burning," from kaustos, "burnt."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for caustic
See all rhymes for caustic →Frequently asked questions
What does “caustic” mean?
The word “caustic” means capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material. In plain terms, either literally corrosive (a chemical) or figuratively cutting and sarcastic (a remark or person).
How do you pronounce “caustic”?
“Caustic” is pronounced KAWS-tihk (/ˈkɔːstɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “caustic” in a sentence?
Here is “caustic” used in a sentence: “Caustic soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin.”
What part of speech is “caustic”?
“Caustic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “caustic” come from?
The word “caustic” comes from Latin. From Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, "burning," from kaustos, "burnt.".
How many meanings does “caustic” have?
“Caustic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material.
