CAUSTIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does caustic mean? 

• CAUSTIC (noun)
  The noun CAUSTIC has 1 sense:

1. any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

  Familiarity information: CAUSTIC used as a noun is very rare.

• CAUSTIC (adjective)
  The adjective CAUSTIC has 2 senses:

1. harsh or corrosive in tone

2. of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

  Familiarity information: CAUSTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAUSTIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("caustic" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "caustic"):

lye (a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide)

silver nitrate (a nitrate used in making photographic emulsions; also used in medicine as a cautery and as a topical antibacterial agent)

Derivation:

caustic (of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action)

• CAUSTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Harsh or corrosive in tone

Synonyms:

acerb; acerbic; acid; acrid; bitter; blistering; caustic; sulfurous; sulphurous; virulent; vitriolic

Context example:

a vitriolic critique

Similar:

unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

Synonyms:

caustic; corrosive; erosive; mordant; vitriolic

Similar:

destructive (causing destruction or much damage)

Derivation:

caustic (any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue)

 Context examples 

A traumatic injury involving interruption of tissue cohesiveness that results from exposure to caustic chemicals, extreme heat, extreme cold or excessive radiation.

(Burn, NCI Thesaurus)

(KOT-uh-rize) To destroy tissue with a hot instrument, an electrical current, or a caustic substance.

(Cauterize, NCI Dictionary)

Less common causes include injuries from penetrating or blunt trauma or injury to the esophagus during an operation on another organ, mechanical problem such as violent retching or vomiting; ingestion of a foreign body or caustic agents.

(Esophageal Perforation, NCI Thesaurus)