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# caustic

adjective (caustic; more caustic, most caustic)

«caustic» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Able to burn or eat away skin and other materials by a chemical action, as in «caustic soda». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#m1)
2. Cruel and sharp in a clever, sarcastic way, as in «a caustic remark». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and safety lessons, caustic chemicals such as drain cleaner, oven cleaner and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) are strong alkalis that burn skin and eyes: never touch them, keep them locked away, and read hazard labels. In stories, a caustic comment tells the reader that a character is being bitingly unkind.

### Examples

- Caustic soda can burn your skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x1)
- The drain cleaner bottle had a caustic warning sign. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x2)
- Wear gloves and goggles with caustic chemicals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x3)
- She made a caustic remark about his drawing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x4)
- The critic wrote a caustic review of the film. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x5)
- Keep caustic cleaners out of children's reach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x6)
- His caustic jokes hurt people's feelings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/#x7)

### Note

Adjective. Said «KAWS-tik». Science note: caustic usually means a strong alkali (base), not an acid, but both can burn. If a caustic chemical gets on skin, rinse with lots of water and get an adult or call for help.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «caustic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/caustic/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«caustic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/caustic.html) on Mova free.