caution

[kaw-shuh n] /ˈkɔ ʃən/
noun
1.
alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness:
Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
2.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning:
By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
3.
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension:
She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution.
verb (used with object)
4.
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed.
verb (used without object)
5.
to warn or advise:
The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English caucion < Latin cautiōn- (stem of cautiō) a taking care, equivalent to caut(us), past participle of cavēre to guard against (cau- take care, guard + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
cautioner, noun
overcaution, noun, verb (used with object)
recaution, verb (used with object)
supercaution, noun
uncautioned, adjective
well-cautioned, adjective
Synonyms
1. circumspection, discretion, watchfulness, heed, vigilance. 2. admonition, advice, counsel. 4. admonish, forewarn. See warn.
Antonyms
1. carelessness.
Examples from the web for caution
  • Next up, was the parade of oversized moose warning signs, some complete with flashing caution lights.
  • But whatever your take on the policy proposals, it's worth approaching the rosy claims made on its behalf with extreme caution.
  • But they caution not to read too much into the finds.
  • The instability of the evolutionary trees being produced should make us proceed with caution.
  • Colleges advised students returning to campuses to use caution.
  • Seeing a solar eclipse can be an unforgettable experience, but experts urge caution.
  • Scientists often caution against anthropomorphizing any behavior seen in a particular animal.
  • The study's scientists are quick to caution that it may mean nothing for our future.
  • Others are less pessimistic, though even they caution that we're still a long way from accurate predictions.
  • One should applaud the new-found caution of the corporate sector.
British Dictionary definitions for caution

caution

/ˈkɔːʃən/
noun
1.
care, forethought, or prudence, esp in the face of danger; wariness
2.
something intended or serving as a warning; admonition
3.
(law, mainly Brit) a formal warning given to a person suspected or accused of an offence that his words will be taken down and may be used in evidence
4.
a notice entered on the register of title to land that prevents a proprietor from disposing of his or her land without a notice to the person who entered the caution
5.
(informal) an amusing or surprising person or thing: she's a real caution
verb
6.
(transitive) to urge or warn (a person) to be careful
7.
(transitive) (law, mainly Brit) to give a caution to (a person)
8.
(intransitive) to warn, urge, or advise: he cautioned against optimism
Derived Forms
cautioner, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin cautiō, from cavēre to beware
Word Origin and History for caution
n.

c.1300, "bail, guarantee, pledge," from Old French caution "security, surety" (13c.), from Latin cautionem (nominative cautio) "caution, care, foresight, precaution," noun of action from past participle stem of cavere "to be on one's guard" (see caveat). The Latin sense re-emerged in English 16c.-17c. Meaning "word of warning" is from c.1600.

v.

"to warn," 1640s, from caution (n.). Related: Cautioned; cautioning.

Idioms and Phrases with caution

caution

see: throw caution to the winds