causticcaus‧tic /ˈkɔːstɪk $ ˈkɒːs-/ adjective 
caustic soda (=a chemical used for cleaning things)2a caustic remark criticizes someone in a way that is unkind but often cleverly humorous SYN acerbiccaustic wit/comments/remark etc Eliot appreciated Pound’s caustic wit.—caustically /-kli/ adverb: ‘I can hardly wait,’ Sir Trevor replied caustically.
WORD ORIGINcaustic
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin causticus, from Greek, from kaiein ‘to burn’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Hayward made some pretty caustic comments about your poetry.
- Some of his students were alienated by his caustic wit.
- But the caustic critics were not the majority.
- Eliot wrote a caustic letter back.
- Heavy fatty deposits can be broken up by the use of caustic cleaners sometimes specially formulated and described as drain cleaners.
- It was rather like having a heated dagger thrust into the eyeball and twisted, then caustic soda rubbed in the wound.
- Likewise, efficient marketing of both chlorine and caustic soda is essential as demand for the two chemicals is rarely in balance.
- Rather than return home to be arrested, Kim kept up his caustic criticism from abroad.
- The open and caustic disagreements between Deming and Juran are but one case in point.
Longman Language Activatorunkind comments or remarks
something you say to someone that is unkind , makes them feel unhappy or upset: · He said some very unkind things about my clothes.· She was used to the unkind remarks made by other students. unkind about: · Why are you always so unkind about Christina?never say an unkind word about somebody: · I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone.
if you talk about someone behind their back , you say rude or unkind things about them when they are not present: · I'm sure the other girls are talking about me behind my back.· His name is Mr McLeod, but his students call him "Big Nose" behind his back.
criticizing someone or something in an unkind but clever way: · Hayward made some pretty caustic comments about your poetry.caustic wit/humour: · Some of his students were alienated by his caustic wit.
a remark that is cutting is very unkind and is intended to hurt someone's feelings, especially by making them feel stupid or unimportant: · Emily always managed to say something cutting whenever we met at a party.· At the meeting Mark made some cutting remarks about Sally, who wasn't there to defend herself.
someone who is bitchy or who makes bitchy remarks says unkind things about another person, especially about the way they look or behave - used especially by women when talking about other women: · She was always making bitchy comments about people's clothes and make-up.bitchy about/towards: · The other girls in my class were often bitchy towards me because I studied so hard.
a snide remark criticizes someone in an unkind way, but is not very direct: · As she uttered these words she realized they sounded snide and insinuating.snide comments/remarks: · The teacher kept making snide comments about my pronunciation, which really embarrassed me.
cruel and deliberately intended to hurt someone's feelings or to make their character seem very bad: · The Senator launched a vicious attack on the former President.· Someone is conducting a vicious campaign of false rumours against the Royal Family.
WORD SETSacetate, nounacid, nounacidic, adjectiveacidify, verbactive, adjectiveadditive, nounagent, nounalchemy, nounalcohol, nounalkali, nounalkaline, adjectiveamalgam, nounantioxidant, noun-ate, suffixatomic number, nounbase, nounbauxite, nounbeaker, nounbenzene, nounbiochemistry, nounbitumen, nounbleach, nounbond, nounbonding, nouncalcify, verbcarbohydrate, nouncarbonate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarbonize, verbcatalyst, nouncaustic, adjectivechain reaction, nounchemical, nounchemical, adjectivechemical reaction, nounchemist, nounchemistry, nounchlorinate, verbcitric acid, nouncombustion, nounconcentration, nouncondense, verbcontaminant, nouncontaminate, verbcontaminated, adjectivecorrode, verbcorrosion, nouncorrosive, adjectivecrucible, nouncrystal, nouncrystallize, verbcyanide, nounDDT, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdegrade, verbderive, verbdetoxification, noundextrose, noundioxin, noundispersion, noundissolve, verbdistill, verbeffervesce, verbeffervescent, adjectiveelectrolysis, nounelectrolyte, nounelectroplate, verbemulsify, verbemulsion, nounenzyme, nounexpand, verbfatty acid, nounferment, verbferment, nounflashback, nounflask, nounformaldehyde, nounformula, nounfructose, nounfungicide, nounfuse, verbgas, noungaseous, adjectiveglucose, noungranular, adjectivegraphite, nounhallucinogen, nounhelium, nounherbicide, nounhydrate, nouninert, adjectiveinsoluble, adjectiveinsulin, nounion, nounionize, verblactic acid, nounlimescale, nounlitmus, nounlitmus paper, nounlitmus test, nounmethane, nounmixture, nounmolecule, nounneon, nounnerve gas, nounneutralize, verbneutron, nounnitric acid, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounorganic chemistry, nounosmosis, nounoxidize, verboxyacetylene, nounoxygenate, verbozone, nounpart, nounpectin, nounpesticide, nounpestle, nounpetrochemical, nounpH, nounphotosynthesis, nounplasma, nounpolyunsaturated, adjectivepotash, nounprecipitate, verbprecipitate, nounprecipitation, nounproduct, nounprussic acid, nounquicklime, nounradioactive, adjectiveradioactivity, nounradiology, nounreact, verbreaction, nounreactive, adjectivereagent, nounresidue, nounretort, nounriboflavin, nounsalt, nounsaltpetre, nounsaturate, verbsaturated, adjectivesaturation, nounsaturation point, nounsemiconductor, nounsoft, adjectivesolid, nounsolution, nounsolvent, nounstability, nounstabilizer, nounstable, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, nounsucrose, nounsulphate, nounsulphide, nounsulphur, nounsulphur dioxide, nounsulphuric acid, nounsulphurous, adjectivesurface tension, nounsuspension, nounsynthesize, verbsynthetic, adjectivetannin, nountartaric acid, nounTNT, noununstable, adjectivevalence, nounvitamin, nounvolatile, adjectivevulcanize, verbwater softener, nounwater-soluble, adjectivewater vapour, nounwetting agent, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Eliot appreciated Pound’s caustic wit.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1a caustic substance can burn through things by chemical action: Eliot appreciated Pound’s caustic wit.· Then the wind got up, and coated everything with an invasive layer of caustic soda.· It was rather like having a heated dagger thrust into the eyeball and twisted, then caustic soda rubbed in the wound.· Anhydrous caustic soda, hydrogen gas and phosgene, all well established product areas, are being developed to produce maximum returns.· Store in polythene bottles as 5 M caustic soda etches glass.· In its concentrated form it is hazardous to handle especially as many commercial formulations are stabilised with caustic soda.· He claimed Bourne, 26, threw caustic soda liquid into her face causing temporary blindness and serious burns.· Many of these are based on caustic soda and require care in use and protective clothing, gloves and goggles.· In 1890 Castner devised a new process for its manufacture, based on the electrolytic decomposition of caustic soda.
· Sir Brian is loud-mouthing Sir Bernard, who is assaulting the other five with caustic wit.
caustic soda (=a chemical used for cleaning things)2a caustic remark criticizes someone in a way that is unkind but often cleverly humorous SYN acerbiccaustic wit/comments/remark etc Eliot appreciated Pound’s caustic wit.—caustically /-kli/ adverb: ‘I can hardly wait,’ Sir Trevor replied caustically.