caustic curve

noun

A curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.

“Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.”

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Meanings

nouncaustic curve (plural caustic curves)

plural caustic curves

  1. engineeringA curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.

    Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.

Cite this entry
APA

caustic curve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caustic%20curve

MLA

“caustic curve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caustic%20curve. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “caustic curve,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caustic%20curve.

Source: caustic curve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.