Acid: meaning, definitions and examples

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acid

[ ˈæsɪd ]

^{Context #1}

chemical compound

A chemical substance that typically has a sour taste, reacts with metals and carbonates, and turns litmus red; typically, acids have a pH of less than 7.

Synonyms

acidic, chemical, sour

Examples of usage

Vinegar is a weak acid used for cooking.
Lemon juice contains citric acid.
Sulfuric acid is a strong acid used in industrial processes.

^{Context #2}

slang

A powerful hallucinogenic drug, especially LSD.

Synonyms

LSD, hallucinogen

Examples of usage

He took acid and had a mind-bending experience.
The use of acid for recreational purposes has been on the rise.

^{Context #3}

informal

Bitingly sarcastic or critical.

Synonyms

acerbic, cutting, sarcastic

Examples of usage

She made an acid remark about his outfit.
His acid wit often got him into trouble.

Translations

Translations of the word "acid" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ácido

🇮🇳 अम्ल

🇩🇪 Säure

🇮🇩 asam

🇺🇦 кислота

🇵🇱 kwas

🇯🇵 酸

🇫🇷 acide

🇪🇸 ácido

🇹🇷 asit

🇰🇷 산

🇸🇦 حمض

🇨🇿 kyselina

🇸🇰 kyselina

🇨🇳 酸

🇸🇮 kislina

🇮🇸 sýra

🇰🇿 қышқыл

🇬🇪 მჟავა

🇦🇿 turşu

🇲🇽 ácido

Word origin

The word 'acid' originated from the Latin word 'acidus' meaning sour or sharp. It was first used in English in the 1620s to describe substances with a sour taste. The modern understanding of acids as chemical compounds with specific properties was developed in the 19th century through the work of chemists such as Robert Boyle and Antoine Lavoisier.