acid
acid
Pronunciation
acid /æsɪd/
First Syllable:
/æ/ - as in "cat" (short 'a' sound)
/s/ - as in "snake" (voiceless 's' sound)
Second Syllable:
/ɪ/ - as in "kit" (short 'i' sound)
/d/ - as in "dog" (voiced 'd' sound)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: acid
Plural: acids
Adjective: acid
Adverb: acidly (derived from the adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A chemical substance, typically liquid, that has a sour taste, reacts with bases to form salts, and has a pH of less than 7. Acids are often corrosive and can be found naturally in citrus fruits or produced synthetically for industrial uses.
Synonyms: corrosive, solvent, etchant
Antonyms: alkali, base, neutralizer
A substance, situation, or remark that is sharp, biting, or critical in nature, often causing a stinging sensation or feeling of discomfort. This usage often refers to something that is metaphorically harsh or unpleasant.
Synonyms: sarcasm, harshness, bitterness, critique
Antonyms: sweetness, gentleness, flattery, kindness
Adjective
Having the properties of an acid; characterized by a sour taste, corrosiveness, or a low pH. This describes something chemically acidic.
Synonyms: sour, tart, sharp, acidic, pungent
Antonyms: alkaline, basic, sweet, mild
Sharp, biting, or critical in tone or manner; characterized by a cutting or caustic quality. This describes a remark, wit, or personality trait that is harsh or critical.
Synonyms: caustic, biting, cutting, acerbic, trenchant, sardonic
Antonyms: gentle, mild, sweet, benevolent, kind
Adverb
In an acid manner; with a sharp, biting, or critical tone. This describes how an action, particularly speech, is performed.
Synonyms: caustically, sharply, bitingly, acerbically, trenchantly
Antonyms: gently, mildly, sweetly, kindly
Examples of Use
1. Literature:
In novels: "The eagle soared above the canyon, its wings catching the wind." (From a fictional novel)
In poetry: "He clasps the crag with hooked hands; / Close to the sun in lonely lands, / Ringed with the azure world, he stands." (Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle")
2. News & Journalism:
Newspaper articles: "Bald eagle sightings have increased in recent years due to conservation efforts." (The New York Times)
Online publications: "Golden eagles are facing threats from habitat loss and climate change." (National Geographic)
3. Entertainment:
Movies: "The eagle-eyed detective noticed a clue the others had missed." (Movie script)
Video games: "The player character unlocked the 'Eagle' skill, allowing for increased accuracy." (In-game description)
Music: "The band 'The Eagles' is known for their classic rock hits." (Band name)
4. Public Discourse:
Everyday conversation: "Did you see that eagle soaring overhead? It was magnificent!" (Casual conversation)
Sports: "He eagled the hole-in-one!" (Golf commentary)
Business: "The company is known for its eagle-eyed approach to quality control." (Business jargon)
5. Brand Names & Symbols:
Company logos: Many companies use eagles in their logos, symbolizing strength, freedom, and vision (e.g., the United States Postal Service).
National symbols: The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.
10 Famous Quotes Using Acid
"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." - Mark Twain
"Tragedy is like strong acid - it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth." - D.H. Lawrence
"Loneliness becomes an acid that eats away at you." - Haruki Murakami (from 1Q84)
"Fuck the drug war. Dropping acid was a profound turning point for me, a seminal experience." - George Carlin
"I was on acid and I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point." - Harry Nilsson
"He changed my face, not my heart. He threw acid on my face, not my dreams." - Laxmi Agarwal
"You can eat alkaline foods until the cows come home, but if you're a miserable SOB, you're acidic." - Nancy S. Mure
"The new American finds his challenge and his love in traffic-choked streets, skies nested in smog, choking with the acids of industry, the screech of rubber and houses leashed in against one another while the townlets wither a time and die." - John Steinbeck (from Travels With Charley: In Search of America)
"Hate is like acid." (Common proverb, sometimes attributed to various sources)
"Her words cut like acid, leaving scars on my soul." (Lyrical excerpt from "Bitter Truths" by The Echoes)
Etymology
The word "acid" has a pretty straightforward history!
It comes from the Latin word "acidus," which simply meant "sour" or "sharp." Think of sour-tasting foods like vinegar or lemons – that's the original sense.
The first known use of "acid" in English, with a similar meaning to what we use today, can be traced back to the late 14th century. At that time, it was used as an adjective to describe things that had a sour or sharp taste, much like its Latin root. For example, people might have talked about "acid fruits" or "acid wine."
Over time, especially with the development of chemistry, the word's meaning expanded. By the 17th century, it started to be used as a noun to refer to a specific type of chemical substance that had those characteristic sour and corrosive properties. This is when the scientific understanding of "acids" as a class of compounds began to take shape.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Acid
Acid test: A conclusive test of the effectiveness or value of something.
Acid rain: Rain that is unusually acidic, caused by atmospheric pollution.
Acid-tongued: Having a sharp, sarcastic, or critical way of speaking.
Acid humor: Witty but sarcastic or cynical humor.
On an acid trip: Under the influence of the hallucinogenic drug LSD (colloquial).
Sour grapes: Disdain for something that one cannot have (uses a synonym of acid).
Sharp-tongued: Similar to acid-tongued, having a critical or sarcastic manner of speaking.
A biting remark: A harsh or critical comment.
Tart reply: A sharp or sarcastic response.
Turning sour: When a situation or relationship deteriorates or becomes unpleasant.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of acid from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
