caution

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
caution/ˈkɔːʃn/

▶noun

• 1 care taken to avoid danger or mistakes.

• 2 Brit. an official or legal warning given to someone who has committed a minor offence but has not been charged.

• 3 informal, dated an amusing or surprising person.

▶verb

• 1 say something as a warning.

  ■ (caution against) warn or advise against.

• 2 Brit. issue an official or legal warning to.

  ■ (of a police officer) advise (someone) of their legal rights when arresting them.

– phrases
throw caution to the wind (or winds) act in a reckless manner.

– origin ME: from L. cautio(n-), from cavere ‘take heed’.