different between acetic vs acerbic

English

Etymology

From French acétique, from Latin ac?tum (“vinegar”), from ac?re (“to be sour”).

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: a?ce?tic

  Rhymes: -i?t?k

Adjective

acetic (not comparable)

1. (organic chemistry) Of, pertaining to, or producing vinegar
2. (organic chemistry) Of or pertaining to acetic acid or its derivatives

Translations

Anagrams

• accite

Romanian

Etymology

From French acétique

Adjective

acetic m or n (feminine singular acetic?, masculine plural acetici, feminine and neuter plural acetice)

1. acetic

Declension

English

Etymology

Attested since the 17th century, from Latin acerbus (“sour, bitter”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??s??(?)b?k/
• (US) enPR: ?-sûr'b?k, IPA^(key): /??s?(?)b?k/
• Rhymes: -??(?)b?k

Adjective

acerbic (comparative more acerbic, superlative most acerbic)

1. Tasting sour or bitter.
   • 1998 Aug. 5, Dr. Peter Gott, "Can inhaler cause addiction?," Catoosa County News (retrieved 19 Sep 2009):

     Those consumers who object to the acerbic taste of garlic can purchase de-odorized garlic or allicin extract.

2. (figuratively) Sharp, harsh, biting.
   • 1986 Sept. 22, "West Germany: Last Taunts From the Lip," Time (retrieved 25 Apr 2014):

     Supercompetent, superconfident and supercritical, Schmidt is a gifted orator whose acerbic wit earned him the nickname "Schmidt the Lip."

   • 2005 May 5, Jay Mathews, "Don't Fire This Professor," Washington Post, p. T6:

     [H]e is one of the most acerbic people in his field, quick to take offense and not shy about telling people with whom he disagrees how much he thinks they have failed in thought and action.

Synonyms

• (sour or bitter): acerb, acrid, acrimonious (archaic)
• (sharp, biting): acrid, acrimonious (archaic), scathing

Translations

Anagrams

• breccia