Acidity is the level or degree of acidity in a substance, typically expressed by pH as a measure of hydrogen ion concentration. In chemistry and biology contexts, it describes the ability to donate protons or produce acidic properties. In everyday language, it can refer to sour taste or sharpness of behavior or environment.
"The acidity of the rain affected the metal fittings."
"Soil acidity determines nutrient availability for plants."
"He tested the acidity of the solution using a calibrated pH meter."
"The acidity of the remarks softened when the speaker acknowledged the mistake."
Acidity comes from the Latin acēditas, from acer, meaning sharp or keen, and -ity, a suffix forming abstract nouns. The word entered English through scientific usage in the 17th-18th centuries as chemistry grew more systematic about properties like acidity, basicity, and salinity. Early modern chemists borrowed Latin roots to describe substances’ behavior—specifically, their tendency to donate protons (H+) or accept electrons in reactions. The term was refined alongside pH scale development in the early 20th century, which standardized measurements of acidity. Over time, acidity gained broader metaphorical uses (e.g., “acidity of tone”) in literature and everyday speech. The core idea remains: a property indicating sharpness or sourness, either chemically or figuratively. First known uses appear in scientific texts of the 1600s describing sour tastes and mineral properties, with precise chemical definition solidifying by the 1900s as acid-base theory matured. In modern usage, acidity denotes quantitative measures (pH) and qualitative impressions (taste, temperament).
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Words that rhyme with "Acidity"
-ity sounds
-tty sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You pronounce it as ə-SID-i-tee, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈsɪdɪti/. The first syllable sounds like the schwa, the second is a short i as in sit, and the final -ty is an exact -ti sound like tea but spelled -ty. Mouth position: start with relaxed lips, then raise the mid tongue for /ˈɪ/ and finish with a light, clipped /ti/.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable as a-ci-di-ty (pronouncing /ˈeɪ-/ or weak primary stress), and merging /d/ with a following /ɪ/ making /sɪdiɪti/ or /sɪdɪti/ sound like /sɪdɪti/. Another error is pronouncing /ti/ as /tiː/ or prolonging the final syllable. Correct by keeping primary stress on the second syllable, use a short /i/ for /ɪ/ in 2nd syllable, and a crisp, unstressed final -ty /ti/.
In US and UK accents, the second syllable bears primary stress: a-SID-i-ty, with /ɪ/ in the 2nd syllable and a clear /ti/ at the end. US rhoticity doesn’t heavily affect this word’s ending, but Australians may reduce the final -ty slightly and may sound a touch flatter in the -di- segment. Vowel quality for /ɪ/ and /iː/ can vary slightly, yet the stress pattern remains /əˈsɪdɪti/.
Two main challenges: a) the unfamiliar arrangement of three distinct syllables with secondary-then-primary stress, and b) the short, clipped /ɪ/ in the middle syllable vs. the schwa in the first syllable. Precision in the /d/ followed by /ɪ/ can be tricky, making “-di-” feel like a quick blink. Practice by isolating the 2nd syllable and ensuring a crisp /d/ before the /ɪ/; then attach a soft, fast final /ti/.
Yes—accentuation centers on the /d/ followed by /ɪ/; avoid turning /ɪ/ into a longer /iː/ sound. Also, maintain clean separation between syllables: /ə-ˈsɪ-dɪ-ti/. This yields a natural rhythm in scientific speech and helps listeners differentiate acidity from similar terms like “acidity” (which is archaic) or “acid” alone.
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