caustic

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɔːstɪk, ˈkɒst-/

adjective

  • 1able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action: a caustic cleaner
  • 2sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way: the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing
  • 3 Physics formed by the intersection of reflected or refracted parallel rays from a curved surface.

noun

  • 1a caustic substance.
  • 2 Physics a caustic surface or curve.

Derivatives

caustically

adverb

causticity

Pronunciation: /-ˈtɪsɪti/
noun

Origin:

late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos 'combustible', from kaiein 'to burn'