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caustico

caustic; corrosive

adjective KAH-oos-tee-koh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: From Greek 'kaustikos' (burning), from 'kaiein' (to burn)

Also means

biting; sarcastic

Usage Note

Caustico is used both literally — soda caustica ('caustic soda'), sostanza caustica ('corrosive substance') — and figuratively for sharp, biting wit: un commento caustico ('a caustic remark'). In Italian the figurative use is very common in literary and journalistic writing. The feminine form is caustica, plural caustici/caustiche.

Examples

"Il critico ha fatto un commento caustico sulla mostra."

Natural Translation

The critic made a caustic comment about the exhibition.

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