caustic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
  2. adjective satellite harsh or corrosive in tone
    blistering; acerbic; acrid; vitriolic; virulent; sulphurous; acerb; sulfurous; acid; bitter.
    • an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
    • a barrage of acid comments
    • her acrid remarks make her many enemies
    • bitter words
    • blistering criticism
    • caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
    • a sulfurous denunciation
    • a vitriolic critique
  3. adjective satellite of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
    erosive; vitriolic; corrosive; mordant.

WordNet

Caus"tic, Caus"tic*al adjective (Also<
  • Caustic
  • Caustical
)
Etymology
L. caustucs, Ge. , fr. to burn. Cf. Calm, Ink.
Definitions
  1. Capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its substance by chemical action; burning; corrosive; searing.
  2. Severe; satirical; sharp; as, a caustic remark. Syn. -- Stinging; cutting; pungent; searching.
Cau"stic noun
Etymology
L. causticum (sc. medicamentum). See Caustic, a.
Definitions
  1. Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.
  2. (Optics) A caustic curve or caustic surface.

Webster 1913