caustic

caustic, any strongly corrosive chemical substance, especially one that attacks organic matter. A caustic alkali is a metal hydroxide, especially that of an alkali metal; caustic soda is sodium hydroxide, and caustic potash is potassium hydroxide. Silver nitrate is another caustic substance; it is sometimes called lunar caustic. Most inorganic acids, e.g., sulfuric acid, are caustic, especially when concentrated.

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caustic

1. capable of burning or corroding by chemical action

2. of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface

3. a surface that envelopes the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface

4. a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane

5. Chem a caustic substance, esp an alkali

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caustic [′kȯ·stik]

(chemistry)

Burning or corrosive.

A hydroxide of a light metal.

(optics)

A curve or surface which is tangent to the rays of an initially parallel beam after reflection or refraction in an optical system.

(physics)

A curve or surface which is tangent to adjacent orthogonals to waves that have been reflected or refracted from a curved surface.