acid
Definitions
A sour, corrosive chemical substance with a pH below 7
酸；酸性物质（pH 低于 7 的腐蚀性物质）
Sour or sharp in taste
酸的；味道尖锐的
Sharp, biting, or bitter in tone or manner
（语气、态度）尖刻的，刻薄的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedacid comes straight from Latin acidus, "sour." Acids taste sour and can corrode metal, so the word names that whole class of substances. The same "sour bite" gives us the figurative acid remark — sour and stinging in tone.
Root acid still carries 3 more wordsWhy It Means This
The link from taste to chemistry is direct: early scientists named these substances acids because they literally tasted sour. The figurative sense works the same way — an acid tone leaves a sour, stinging impression, just as acid burns.
Common Collocations
- 1.sulfuric acid硫酸
- 2.amino acid氨基酸
- 3.acid rain酸雨
- 4.an acid remark尖刻的话
Example Sentences
- 1.
Sulfuric acid can burn through cloth and skin in seconds.
- 2.
Lemon juice has a sharp, acid taste.
- 3.
She replied in an acid tone that silenced the room.