Definition of CAUSTIC

caustic

Meanings

Plural: caustics

Noun

  • any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
  • Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.
  • The envelope of reflected or refracted rays of light for a given surface or object.
  • The envelope of reflected or refracted rays for a given curve.
  • Caustic soda.

Adjective Satellite

  • harsh or corrosive in tone
    • "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"
  • of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

Adj

  • Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.
  • Sharp, bitter, cutting, biting, and sarcastic in a scathing way.

Origin / Etymology

From the Latin causticus (“burning”), from Ancient Greek καυστικός (kaustikós, “burning”), from καυστός (kaustós, “burnt”) + -ικός (-ikós).

Scrabble Score: 11

caustic is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
caustic is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
caustic is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

caustic is a valid Words With Friends word