Main Entry:

acute

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈkyüt\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

acut·er; acut·est

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge

Date:

14th century

1 a (1): characterized by sharpness or severity <acute pain> (2): having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course <acute disease> (3): being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for serious illness or traumatic injury) <acute hospitals> <an acute patient> b: lasting a short time <acute experiments>2: ending in a sharp point: as a: being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees <an acute angle> b: composed of acute angles <an acute triangle> 3 aof an accent mark : having the form ´ b: marked with an acute accent c: of the variety indicated by an acute accent4 a: marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions : penetrating <an acute thinker> b: responsive to slight impressions or stimuli <acute hearing>5: felt, perceived, or experienced intensely <acute distress>6: seriously demanding urgent attention <an acute emergency>

— acute·ly adverb

— acute·ness noun

synonyms acute, critical, crucial mean of uncertain outcome. acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point <an acute housing shortage>. critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome <the war has entered a critical phase>. crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction <a crucial vote>.

synonyms see in addition sharp