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acid

Syllabification: (ac·id)
Pronunciation: /ˈasid/

Translate acid | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of acid

noun

  • 1a chemical substance that neutralizes alkalis, dissolves some metals, and turns litmus red; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind:rainwater is a very weak acid traces of acidOften contrasted with alkali or base1.
  • bitter or cutting remarks or tone of voice:she was unable to quell the acid in her voice
  • 2 Chemistry a molecule or other entity that can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions.
  • 3 informal the drug LSD.

Acids are compounds that release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water. Any solution with a pH of less than 7 is acidic, strong acids such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acid having a pH as low as 1 or 2. Most organic acids ( carboxylic or fatty acids) contain the carboxyl group COOH

adjective

  • 1containing acid or having the properties of an acid; in particular, having a pH of less than 7:poor, acid soilsOften contrasted with alkaline or basic.
  • Geology (of rock, especially lava) containing a relatively high proportion of silica.
  • Metallurgy relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving silica-rich refractories and slags.
  • 2sharp-tasting or sour:acid fruit
  • (of a person’s remarks or tone) bitter or cutting.
  • (of a color) intense or bright:an acid green

Derivatives

acidy

adjective

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'sour-tasting'): from Latin acidus, from acere 'be sour'

acid in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of acid in the British & World English dictionary

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