caution

cau|tion1 [ `kɔʃn ] noun **

1. ) uncount careful thought and lack of hurry in order to try to avoid risks or danger:

with caution: He was instructed to act with extreme caution.

exercise caution (=behave with care): Politicians should exercise caution in their expenditure of taxpayers' money.

urge/advise caution: The U.S. favors an immediate military response but European leaders are urging caution.

a ) careful thought before accepting something as true:

Scientists have advised caution in interpreting these results.

treat something with caution: The evidence of police informants needs to be treated with caution.

2. ) count BRITISH an official warning that the police give when they arrest someone, to tell them that anything they say may be used as evidence against them

a ) BRITISH an official warning from the police to someone who has broken the law, stating that they will be punished if they do it again

3. ) uncount a warning that you should be careful:

a word/note of caution: A word of caution: the roads are very icy.

throw/cast caution to the wind(s)

to stop being careful and do something you know has risks

caution

cau|tion 2 [ `kɔʃn ] verb transitive

1. ) FORMAL to tell someone about a danger or problem that they need to know about or avoid. In ordinary speech, it is more usual to say that you warn someone:

caution that: Researchers cautioned that the drug is only partly effective.

caution (someone) against something: The judge cautioned them against taking the law into their own hands.

The report cautions against over-optimistic expectations.

2. ) BRITISH when the police caution someone who has broken the law, they warn them officially that they will be punished if they do it again

a ) BRITISH when the police caution someone they are arresting, they warn them officially that anything they say may be used as evidence against them