Caution

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: cau=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

Caution, n. [F. caution a security, L. cautio, fr. cavere (For scavere) to be on one's guard, to take care (orig.) to be on the watch, see; akin to E. show.].

•  A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.  [1913 Webster]
•  Security; guaranty; bail.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted."  [1913 Webster]
•  Precept or warning against evil of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction.  [1913 Webster]

  "In way of caution I must tell you."  [1913 Webster]
•  A pledge, bond, or other security for the performance of an obligation either in or out of judicial proceedings; the promise or contract of one not for himself but another; security.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Caution money, money deposited by way of security or guaranty, as by a student at an English university.

Syn. -- Care; forethought; forecast; heed; prudence; watchfulness; vigilance; circumspection; anxiety; providence; counsel; advice; warning; admonition.

Caution, v. t. 

 To give notice of danger to; to warn; to exhort [one] to take heed.  [1913 Webster]
"You cautioned me against their charms."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Caution, n. & v.
--n.
1 attention to safety; prudence, carefulness.
2 a esp. Brit. a warning, esp. a formal one in law. b a formal warning and reprimand.
3 colloq. an amusing or surprising person or thing.
--v.tr.
1 (often foll. by against, or to + infin.) warn or admonish.
2 esp. Brit. issue a caution to.

Idiom

caution money Brit. a sum deposited as security for good conduct.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L cautio -onis f. cavere caut- take heed

THESAURUS

Caution

TLC, admonish, admonishment, admonition, advice, advise, advising, advocacy, alarm, alert, alerting, alertness, anticipation, attention, briefing, canniness, care, carefulness, caution money, cautioning, cautiousness, caveat, charge, circumspection, circumspectness, clue, collateral, collateral security, concern, consideration, consultation, council, counsel, cry havoc, cry out against, cue, daunt, deposit, determent, deterrence, deterrent example, diffidence, direction, discreetness, discretion, disinclination to believe, dissuade, encourage, enjoin, example, exhort, exhortation, expostulate, expostulation, falter, faltering, final notice, final warning, foresight, forethought, forewarn, forewarning, forfeit, frighten off, frightening off, give fair warning, give notice, give warning, guardedness, guidance, heed, heedfulness, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitating, hesitation, hint, hortation, idea, incite, inconvincibility, incredulity, induce, injunction, instruction, intimidate, intimidation, issue a caveat, issue an ultimatum, kid out of, leeriness, lesson, loving care, margin, mindfulness, monition, moral, move, notice, notification, notify, object lesson, office, opinion, parley, passing word, persuade, pointer, preach, precaution, preconsideration, predeliberation, premeditation, preparedness, prompt, proposal, providence, prudence, recommendation, regard, regardfulness, remonstrance, remonstrate, resistiveness to belief, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, skepticism, solicitude, sound the alarm, stake, steer, suggestion, suspicion, suspiciousness, talk out of, talking out of, tender loving care, tentativeness, thought, thoughtfulness, threat, threaten, tip, tip off, tip-off, tough-mindedness, ultimatum, unconvincibility, uncredulousness, unpersuadability, unpersuade, unpersuasibility, urge, utter a caveat, verbum sapienti, vigilance, wariness, warn, warn against, warning, warning piece, watchfulness, whisper

ROGET THESAURUS

Caution

Warning

N warning, early warning, caution, caveat, notice, premonition, premonishment, prediction, contraindication, lesson, dehortation, admonition, monition, alarm, handwriting on the wall, mene mene tekel upharsin, red flag, yellow flag, fog-signal, foghorn, siren, monitor, warning voice, Cassandra, signs of the times, Mother Cary's chickens, stormy petrel, bird of ill omen, gathering clouds, clouds in the horizon, death watch, watchtower, beacon, signal post, lighthouse, sentinel, sentry, watch, watchman, watch and ward, watchdog, bandog, housedog, patrol, patrolman, vedette, picket, bivouac, scout, spy, spial, undercover agent, mole, plainclothesman, advanced guard, rear guard, lookout, cautiousness, monitor, guard camera, radar, AWACS, spy satellite, spy-in-the- sky, U2 plane, spy plane, warning, premonitory, monitory, cautionary, admonitory, admonitive, sematic, warned, forewarned, on one's guard, in terrorem, Int, beware!, ware!, take care!, look out!, fore (golf), mind what you are about!, take care what you are about!, mind!, ne reveillez pas le chat qui dort, don't wake a sleeping cat, foenum habet in cornu, caveat actor, le silence du people est la legon des rois, verbum sat sapienti, a word to the wise is sufficient, un averti en vaut deux.

VB warn, caution, forewarn, prewarn, admonish, premonish, give notice, give warning, dehort, menace, put on one's guard, sound the alarm, croak, beware, ware, take warning, take heed at one's peril, keep watch and ward.

Security

N security, guaranty, guarantee, gage, warranty, bond, tie, pledge, plight, mortgage, collateral, debenture, hypothecation, bill of sale, lien, pawn, pignoration, real security, vadium, stake, deposit, earnest, handsel, caution, promissory note, bill, bill of exchange, I, O, U, personal security, covenant, specialty, parole, acceptance, indorsement, signature, execution, stamp, seal, sponsor, cosponsor, sponsion, sponsorship, surety, bail, mainpernor, hostage, godchild, godfather, godmother, recognizance, deed of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, authentication, verification, warrant, certificate, voucher, docket, doquet, record, probate, attested copy, receipt, acquittance, quittance, discharge, release, muniment, title deed, instrument, deed, deed poll, assurance, indenture, charter, charter poll, paper, parchment, settlement, will, testament, last will and testament, codicil, bonis avibus, gone where the woodbine twineth.

Caution

N caution, cautiousness, discretion, prudence, cautel, heed, circumspection, calculation, deliberation, foresight, vigilance, warning, coolness, self-possession, self-command, presence of mind, sang froid, well-regulated mind, worldly wisdom, Fabian policy, cautious, wary, guarded, on one's guard, cavendo tutus, in medio tutissimus, vigilant, careful, heedful, cautelous, stealthy, chary, shy of, circumspect, prudent, discreet, politic, sure-footed, unenterprising, unadventurous, cool, steady, self-possessed, overcautious, cautiously, Int, have a care!, timeo Danaos, festina lente, ante victoriam ne canas triumphum, don't sing out victory before the triumph, give, every man thine ear but few thy voice, he who laughs last laughs best, il rit bien qui rit le dernier, ni firmes carta que no leas ni bebas agua que no v, nescit vox missa reverti, love all, trust a few, noli irritare leones, safe bind safe find, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

VB be cautious, take care, take heed, take good care, have a care mind, what one is about, be on one's guard, make assurance doubly sure, bespeak, think twice, look before one leaps, count the cost, look to the main chance, cut one's coat according to one's cloth, feel one's ground, feel one's way, see how the land lies, wait to see how the cat jumps, bridle one's tongue, reculer pour mieux sauter, let well alone, let well enough alone, let sleeping dogs lie, ne pas reveiller le chat qui dort, don't wake a sleeping cat, keep out of harm's way, keep out of troubled waters, keep at a respectful distance, stand aloof, keep on the safe side, be on the safe side, husband one's resources, caution.