Caustic
['kɔːstɪk;'kɒst-] or ['kɔstɪk]
Definition
(noun.) any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue.
(adj.) of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action .
Inputed by Brenda--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Alt. of Caustical
(a.) Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.
(a.) A caustic curve or caustic surface.
Typed by Agatha
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Catheretic.
a. [1]. Corrosive, corroding, CATHERETIC, consuming, acrid, virulent, eating away.[2]. Severe, sarcastic, satirical, bitter, stinging, sharp, cutting.
Edited by Dorothy
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Burning, mordant, pungent, irritating, biting, pointed, sarcastic, trenchant,severe
ANT:Pointless, mild, soothing, conciliating, vapid, flat, tame
Typist: Maxine
Definition
adj. burning: (fig.) bitter severe cutting: (math.) noting an envelope of rays of light proceeding from a fixed point and reflected (catacaustic) or refracted (diacaustic) by a surface or a curve.—n. a substance that exerts a corroding or disintegrating action on the skin and flesh.—adv. Caus′tically.—n. Caustic′ity quality of being caustic.—Caustic alkali (chem.) a name given to the hydrates of potassium and sodium called caustic potash and caustic soda respectively; Caustic ammonia ammonia as a gas or in solution; Caustic lime quicklime.—Common caustic potash; Lunar caustic nitrate of silver in sticks for surgical use.
Typist: Rowland
Examples
- A caustic spirit--un peu sauvage. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- The production of caustic soda, sodium carbonate, and chlorine by the electrolysis of brine, is carried on upon a large scale, and will probably supersede all other methods. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Most fats contain a substance of an acid nature, and are decomposed by the action of bases such as caustic soda and caustic potash. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Henry was in good humour, and brought out his dry caustic wit admirably. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- A cement which does not have this defect is made by boiling 3 parts of resin and 1 of caustic soda in 5 of water. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
- Mr. Lydgate would say that was not worth knowing, said Mr. Ned, purposely caustic. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- This consists of a tin tube about two feet long containing thirty-four fluid ounces of soda in weak caustic ammonia. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
- Dissolve 5 parts of lunar caustic in 10 parts of spirit of sal ammoniac. William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
- A neutral liquid formed as in Section 204, by the action of hydrochloric acid and the alkali solution of caustic soda, has a brackish, salty taste, and is, in fact, a solution of salt. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Apply by removing the film of grease from the tin by a solution of caustic soda (10 parts of water to 1 of soda). William K. David. Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians.
- Mr Flintwinch, after scraping his chin, and looking about with caustic disparagement of the Pig-Market, nodded to Arthur, and followed. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- The communication to be transmitted is written upon tin foil, thinly coated with varnish, with a pen dipped in an ink composed of caustic soda and colouring matter. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- You are a piece of caustic, Tom,' retorted Mr. James Harthouse. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
Edited by Georgina