adjective
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another word for acid
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(of an oxide) yielding an acid in aqueous solution
Other Word Forms
- nonacidic adjective
- semiacidic adjective
- unacidic adjective
Etymology
Origin of acidic
Explanation
Something that's acidic has a sour or sharp taste. Lemonade, especially if it's light on the sugar, tastes very acidic. Citrus fruits have a typically acidic flavor, and they qualify as acidic in the scientific definition of the word as well. In chemistry, something that's acidic has a low pH, as opposed to a base, which has a higher pH. Various kinds of acids and vinegar are also acidic. The word comes from acid, which originally meant "of the taste of vinegar," from the Latin word acidus, "sour or sharp."
Vocabulary lists containing acidic
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Introductory
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Structure and Properties of Matter - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The show's creator Lee Sung Jin gave the older pair "this acidic point of view towards the others while not seeing our own petty behaviour", the actor adds.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
Those distracting acidic greens are only one unusual choice in Pontormo’s palette.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
“It’s not acidic or negative. I genuinely love doing this,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
Spices: Sumac is a great option because it’s acidic yet earthy, tart and slightly lemony, Chavez explains.
From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026
So when the soil is too acidic, which can be thought of as sour, you should lower the pH factor.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
