different between acidic vs acerb

English

Etymology

acid +? -ic. Doublet of acidy.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??s?d?k/, enPR: ?s?d??k
• Hyphenation: a?cid?ic

Adjective

acidic (comparative more acidic, superlative most acidic)

1. (chemistry) Having a pH less than 7, or being sour, or having the strength to neutralize alkalis, or turning a litmus paper red.
2. (mineralogy) Containing a high percentage of silica; opposed to basic.
3. Of or relating to acid; having the character of an acid.

   an acidic solution

Synonyms

• acid

Antonyms

• (having pH less than 7): basic

Translations

References

• acidic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Interlingua

Adjective

acidic (not comparable)

1. acidic, acid

Related terms

• acido

English

Etymology

Latin acerbus, from Latin ?cer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??s??b/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??s??b/

Adjective

acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)

1. (archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.

   Synonym: acerbic
2. (archaic, figuratively) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

   Synonym: acerbic

   • 1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report (volume 1, page 1970)

     As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […]

Related terms

• acerbate
• acerbically
• acerbity
• exacerbate

Translations

References

• acerb in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Brace, brace, caber, cabre, cabré

Romanian

Etymology

From French acerbe, from Latin acerbus.

Adjective

acerb m or n (feminine singular acerb?, masculine plural acerbi, feminine and neuter plural acerbe)

1. harsh, unkind

Declension