acidic

/əˈsɪdɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈsɪdɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈsi-dik a-/ (ame, mw)

acidic — adjective

1. Describes a liquid, soil, or other substance that has acid in it, or that behave

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Describes a liquid, soil, or other substance that has acid in it, or that behaves like an acid in chemical tests — usually with a pH measurement below 7.

例句

Blueberries grow well in acidic soil with a pH of about 5.

collocation: acidic soil

Dr. Diego warned the class that lemon juice is highly acidic and can damage tooth enamel.

pattern: highly/strongly acidic

同義詞
  • acid

    used as an adjective in fixed terms (acid rain, acid soil); 'acidic' is preferred for general descriptions

  • acidulous

    rare and formal; mostly literary or technical

反義詞
  • alkaline

    the opposite end of the pH scale (above 7)

  • basic

    scientific synonym of alkaline; common in chemistry classes

  • neutral

    neither acidic nor alkaline; pH around 7

用法筆記

Often modified by degree adverbs such as 'highly', 'strongly', 'mildly', or 'slightly'. Distinguish from sense 2 by context: this sense is about chemical content (pH), while sense 2 is about taste sensation.

常見錯誤

❌The pH of the lake is 8, so it is acidic.
✅The pH of the lake is 8, so it is alkaline.
💡pH below 7 is acidic; pH above 7 is alkaline.
❌an acid soil' (in a scientific context).
✅an acidic soil.
💡when describing the property, use 'acidic'; 'acid' as an adjective is more common in fixed terms like 'acid rain'.

2. Describes a food or drink that has a strong sour, sharp flavour on the tongue —

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Describes a food or drink that has a strong sour, sharp flavour on the tongue — like a lemon, an unripe fruit, or a vinegary sauce.

例句

Esme pulled a face after one sip of the acidic green wine.

describing wine flavour

The mango was still green and unpleasantly acidic.

同義詞
  • sour

    everyday word; less intense and less formal than 'acidic'

  • tart

    pleasantly sharp, often of fruit or pastry

  • sharp

    general; can mean strong-tasting in many ways, not only sour

  • tangy

    positive: a pleasant, lively sourness

反義詞
  • sweet

    the opposite taste; sugar-like

  • mellow

    soft and well-rounded, with no sharp edge

用法筆記

Subject is usually a food, drink, or fruit. Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker is judging taste, not measuring chemistry. Often paired with 'too' or 'unpleasantly' to suggest the sourness is uncomfortable.

常見錯誤

❌The candy is acidic and sweet.
✅The candy is sour and sweet.
💡for everyday taste, 'sour' is more natural; 'acidic' suggests a sharper, almost chemical sourness.
❌The orange juice is acid.
✅The orange juice is acidic.
💡to describe a sour-sharp taste, the adjective is 'acidic', not 'acid'.