Caustically
capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue.
severely critical or sarcastic:
a caustic remark.
a caustic substance.
Optics.
caustic curve.
caustic surface.
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples
adjective
capable of burning or corroding by chemical action: caustic soda
sarcastic; cutting: a caustic reply
of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface
noun
Also called caustic surface. a surface that envelops the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface
Also called caustic curve. a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane
(chem) a caustic substance, esp an alkali
adj.
c.1400, “burning, corrosive,” from Latin causticus “burning, caustic,” from Greek kaustikos “capable of burning; corrosive,” from kaustos “combustible; burnt,” verbal adjective from kaiein, the Greek word for “to burn” (transitive and intransitive) in all periods, of uncertain origin with no certain cognates outside Greek. Figurative sense of “sarcastic” is attested from 1771. As a noun, early 15c., from the adjective.
caustic caus·tic (kô’stĭk)
n.
A hydroxide of a light metal.
A caustic material or substance.
adj.
Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.
Of or relating to light emitted from a point source and reflected or refracted from a curved surface.
Causing a burning or stinging sensation.
Read Also:
- Causticity
capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue. severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark. a caustic substance. Optics. caustic curve. caustic surface. Historical Examples adjective capable of burning or corroding by chemical action: caustic soda sarcastic; cutting: a caustic reply of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved […]
- Cauterant
a caustic agent. caustic. adjective caustic; cauterizing noun another name for cautery (sense 2) cauterant cau·ter·ant (kô’tər-ənt) n. A cauterizing substance.
- Cauterise
to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery. Historical Examples verb (transitive) (esp in the treatment of a wound) to burn or sear (body tissue) with a hot iron or caustic agent v. c.1400, from Old French cauterisier, from Late Latin cauterizare “to […]
- Cauterization
to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery. Historical Examples verb (transitive) (esp in the treatment of a wound) to burn or sear (body tissue) with a hot iron or caustic agent n. c.1400, from Old French cauterisation (14c.) and directly from Late […]
- Cauterize
to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery. Historical Examples verb (transitive) (esp in the treatment of a wound) to burn or sear (body tissue) with a hot iron or caustic agent v. c.1400, from Old French cauterisier, from Late Latin cauterizare “to […]