caution
[ kaw-shuhn ]
/ ˈkɔ ʃən /
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noun
alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension: She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution.
verb (used with object)
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.
verb (used without object)
to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
SYNONYMS FOR caution
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Origin of caution
1250–1300; Middle English caucion<Latin cautiōn- (stem of cautiō) a taking care, equivalent to caut(us), past participle of cavēre to guard against (cau- take care, guard + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion
synonym study for caution
4. See warn.
OTHER WORDS FROM caution
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for caution
British Dictionary definitions for caution
caution
/ (ˈkɔːʃən) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of caution
cautioner, nounWord Origin for caution
C13: from Old French, from Latin cautiō, from cavēre to beware
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with caution
caution
see throw caution to the winds.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.