Caustic was formed in Middle English as an adjective describing chemical substances, such as lime and lye, that are capable of destroying or eating away at something. The word is based on the Latin …

CAUSTIC definition: capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue. See examples of caustic used in a sentence.

CAUSTIC definition: 1. A caustic chemical burns or destroys things, especially anything made of living cells: 2. A…. Learn more.

Use the adjective caustic to describe any chemical that is able to burn living tissue or other substances, or, figuratively, a statement that has a similarly burning effect.

A caustic remark is extremely critical, cruel, or bitter. His abrasive wit and caustic comments were an interviewer's nightmare. He was often caustic and mocking, or flew into rages. She was caustically …

Caustic (mathematics), the envelope of rays reflected or refracted by a manifold Caustic (optics), optic phenomenon due to light rays reflecting/refracting through curved surfaces/objects

Nov 19, 2025 · caustic (countable and uncountable, plural caustics) Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an …

Definition of caustic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Caustic definition: Capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action.

"Caustic" is one of those words that packs quite a punch. While it might sound like a fancy term for something abrasive, it basically refers to anything that can burn, corrode, or critically bite.