Caustic



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj.腐蚀性的;刻薄的; n.腐蚀剂
• ［英］ adj.腐蚀性的 ( corrosive) ; 刻薄的 ( biting; sarcastic)
• ［记］ 比较:cause ( 原因, 引起)

Webster Collegiate

I. adjective

• Etymology: Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn
• Date: 14th century
• 1. capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action ; corrosive
• 2. marked by incisive sarcasm
• 3. relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic
• ? caustically adverb
• ? causticity noun
• Synonyms:
  • caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive. caustic suggests a biting wit <caustic comments. mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness<mordant reviews of the play. acrid implies bitterness and often malevolencecrid invective. scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity scathing satire.

II. noun

• Date: 15th century
• 1. a caustic agent: as
  • a. a substance that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action
  • b. sodium hydroxide
• 2. the envelope of rays emanating from a point and reflected or refracted by a curved surface

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