A surname from French.

(countable, often with of, typically of adverse results) The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

(transitive) To set off an event or action. / (ditransitive) To actively produce as a result, by means of force or authority. / (obsolete) To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.

Alternative form of 'cause; because

The act of causing. / The act or agency by which an effect is produced. / Cause and effect, considered as a system.

(optics) A curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane.

(optics) A surface to which rays reflected or refracted by another surface are tangents.

Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue. / (of language, etc.) Sharp, bitter, cutting, biting, and sarcastic in a scathing way.

Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.

sodium hydroxide (NaOH), a strong alkaline substance used in the manufacture of paint, soap and detergents, or as a drain cleaner.