caustic
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.”
How to use caustic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally corrosive (a chemical) or figuratively cutting and sarcastic (a remark or person).
Word forms
more caustic comparative, caustics plural, most caustic superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin.
Etymology
From Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, "burning," from kaustos, "burnt."
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.