caution

I UK [ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n] / US [ˈkɔʃ(ə)n] noun
Word forms "caution":
singular caution plural cautions
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1)

a) [uncountable] 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 US favours an immediate military response but European leaders are urging caution.

b) 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) [uncountable] a warning that you should be careful

a word/note of caution:

A word of caution: the roads are very icy.

3)

a) [countable] 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

b) 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

•

throw/cast caution to the wind(s) — to stop being careful and do something that you know has risks

II UK [ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n] / US [ˈkɔʃ(ə)n] verb [transitive]
Word forms "caution":
present tense I/you/we/they caution he/she/it cautions present participle cautioning past tense cautioned past participle cautioned

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)

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

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