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
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.
Acidic foods and drinks, poor oral hygiene and ageing all contribute to enamel erosion and decay, leading to tooth sensitivity, pain and eventually tooth loss.
From BBC • Aug. 13, 2025
Acidic water also weakens the shells of organisms like sea snails and sea urchins.
From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2024
Acidic smoke and greasy soot are grave concerns for any conservator, but in this case, the winds held them at bay.
From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2023
Acidic soil can be remedied by adding limestone.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 26, 2022
Acidic cations are typically the conjugate partners of weak bases, and basic anions are the conjugate partners of weak acids.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
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.
