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What is "acrid"

Crossword clues for acrid

acrid
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
acrid
adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
acrid smoke (=smelling bad and making you cough)
▪ The shop was full of thick, acrid smoke.
an acrid smell (=strong and bitter)
▪ The acrid smell of smoke clung about the place.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
smell
▪ The stuffiness in the hold was made worse by the acrid smell of unwashed bodies.
▪ The jute had an acrid smell that scooped up the rank aroma of moist earth as it leapt from the ground.
▪ He wrinkled his nose in distaste at the acrid smell of the place.
▪ The sharp acrid smell of gutters choked by the monsoon rain.
▪ These formulations are supplied in liquid form and are similar in texture to detergents although with a slightly acrid smell unless perfumed.
▪ Strong winds late Sunday blew hard south, sending the acrid smell of a campfire through much of Phoenix.
smoke
▪ Afterwards, a huge black cloud of acrid smoke rose hundreds of feet above the town.
▪ An acrid smoke filled the room.
▪ Further attempts to fight the fire were abandoned as thick acrid smoke filled the department.
▪ Some workers, their faces blackened by the acrid smoke, fled in panic, escaping injury.
▪ When he arrived at the scene the shop was full of thick, acrid smoke.
▪ He could smell above the all-pervading redolence of incense, the faint acrid smoke of the candle.
▪ Rubble and bloodstained corpses were scattered across the dockside, and acrid smoke from burning oil filled the air.
▪ Several fires were burning, the green wood being used sending clouds of acrid smoke swirling among the tents and make-shift huts.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ The air was stale and acrid, and a cluster of black flies hovered over the bed.
▪ The chemical has an acrid smell.
▪ When I opened the door, acrid white smoke came billowing out.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ But the odour of the colourless liquid was of bitter almonds, acrid and terrifying.
▪ She consoled herself with the thought that the acrid smoke would serve to keep flies out of the room.
▪ The air is stale and acrid, and a cluster of black flies hovers over the bed.
▪ The jute had an acrid smell that scooped up the rank aroma of moist earth as it leapt from the ground.
▪ The sharp acrid smell of gutters choked by the monsoon rain.
▪ The sharp, acrid male smell which rose from his hot skin filled my nostrils.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Acrid

Acrid \Ac"rid\, a. [L. acer sharp; prob. assimilated in form to acid. See Eager.]

  1. Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not, to the taste; pungent; as, acrid salts.

  2. Causing heat and irritation; corrosive; as, acrid secretions.

  3. Caustic; bitter; bitterly irritating; as, acrid temper, mind, writing.

    Acrid poison, a poison which irritates, corrodes, or burns the parts to which it is applied.

Related phrases:
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
acrid

1712, formed irregularly from Latin acer (fem. acris) "sharp, pungent, bitter, eager, fierce," from PIE *akri- "sharp," from root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce" (cognates: Oscan akrid (ablative singular) "sharply;" Greek akis "sharp point," akros "at the farthest point, highest, outermost," akantha "thorn," akme "summit, edge;" also oxys "sharp, bitter;" Sanskrit acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow," asrih "edge;" Lithuanian ašmuo "sharpness," akstis "sharp stick;" Old Lithuanian aštras, Lithuanian aštrus "sharp;" Old Church Slavonic ostru, Russian óstryj "sharp;" Old Irish er "high;" Welsh ochr "edge, corner, border;" Old Norse eggja "goad;" Old English ecg "sword"). The -id suffix probably is in imitation of acid. Acrious (1670s) is a correct formation, but seldom seen.

Wiktionary
acrid

a. Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste; pungent.

WordNet
acrid

  1. adj. strong and sharp; "the acrid smell of burning rubber"

  2. harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: acerb, acerbic, acid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, venomous, virulent, vitriolic]

Usage examples of "acrid".

The vinegar of Wood Anemone made from the leaves retains all the more acrid properties of the plant, and is put, in France, to many rural domestic purposes.

Its tuberous root has been found to contain a particular volatile acrid principle which exercises distinct medicinal effects, though these are altogether dissipated if the roots are subjected to heat by boiling or baking.

It is not given at all internally, but the acrid pulp of the root has been used as a stimulating plaster.

With the acrid juice of this herb, and of others belonging to the same Ranunculous order, beggars in England used to produce sores about their body for the sake of exciting pity, and getting alms.

The several varieties of Cress are stimulating and anti-scorbutic, whilst each contains a particular essential principle, of acrid flavour, and of sharp biting qualities.

The leaves are acrid and pungent, being ungrateful to cattle, and even rejected by geese.

Fifty eggs well fried will yield about five ounces of this oil, which is acrid, and so enduringly liquid that watch-makers use it for lubricating the axles and pivots of their most delicate wheels.

The juice of the root is very acrid when sniffed up the nostrils, and causes a copious flow of water therefrom, thus giving marked relief for obstinate congestive headache of a dull, passive sort.

Raw Onions contain an acrid volatile oil, sulphur, phosphorus, alkaline earthy salts, phosphoric and acetic acids, with phosphate and citrate of lime, starch, free uncrystallized sugar, and lignine.

Its leaves are fleshy, with a bitter saline taste, whilst the juice is slightly acrid, but emollient.

The root when incised secretes from its wounded bark a yellow juice of a narcotic odour and acrid taste.

The virtues of black Mustard depend on the acrid volatile oil contained in its seeds.

Incidentally, as a quaint but effective remedy for carious toothache, may be mentioned the common lady bird insect, Coccinella, which when captured secretes from its legs a yellow acrid fluid having a disagreeable odour.

The root and leaves contain an acrid juice, dispersed by heat, which is of service for irritability of the bladder.

The ivy-leaved variety is found in England, with nodding fresh-coloured blossoms, and a brown intensely acrid root.