catacaustic

C3A1T1A1C3A1U1S1T1I1C3
UK/ˌkætəˈkɔːstɪk/UK/ˌkætəˈkɒstɪk/US, cot caught merger/ˌkætəˈkɑstɪk/

noun

a caustic curve formed by light reflecting from a curved surface

OriginEnglish caustic ← Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-) ← Proto-Hellenic *kətá →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nouncatacaustic (plural catacaustics)

plural catacaustics

  1. a caustic curve formed by light reflecting from a curved surface
  2. mathematicsthe envelope of all rays that emanate from a specified point (the radiant point) and reflect from a given curve; the evolute of the orthotomic

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Indo-European*ḱm̥-th₂der.?
  4. Proto-Hellenic*kətá
  5. Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ́ (kătắ)
  6. Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ- (kătă-)
  7. Englishcata-
  8. Englishcaustic
  9. Englishcatacaustic

From cata- + caustic.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with catacaustic

causticencausticacrosticapolausticdiacaustic
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

catacaustic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catacaustic

MLA

“catacaustic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catacaustic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “catacaustic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catacaustic.

Source: catacaustic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.