Dictionary
ac•id
Pronunciation: (as'id), [key]—
n.
1. Chem.a compound usually having a sour taste and capable of neutralizing alkalis and reddening blue litmus paper, containing hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal or an electropositive group to form a salt, or containing an atom that can accept a pair of electrons from a base. Acids are proton donors that yield hydronium ions in water solution, or electron-pair acceptors that combine with electron-pair donors or bases.
2. a substance with a sour taste.
3. something, as a remark or piece of writing, that is sharp, sour, or ill-natured:
His criticism was pure acid.
4. Slang.See
LSD (def. 2).
5. put on the acid, Australian Slang.to importune someone, as for money, sexual favors, or confidential information.
—
adj.
1. Chem.
a. belonging or pertaining to acids or the anhydrides of acids.
b. having only a part of the hydrogen of an acid replaced by a metal or its equivalent:
an acid phosphate.
c. having a pH value of less than 7. Cf.
alkaline (def. 4).
2. sharp or biting to the taste; tasting like vinegar; sour:
acid fruits.
3. sharp, biting, or ill-natured in mood, manner, etc.:
an acid remark; an acid wit.
4. Geol.containing much silica.
5. Metall.noting, pertaining to, or made by a process in which the lining of the furnace, or the slag that is present, functions as an acid in high-temperature reactions in taking electrons from oxide ions: usually a siliceous material, as sand or ganister. Cf.
basic (def. 3).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
