acute
acute Lexical Profile
acute Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Present or experienced to a severe, intense, or critical degree (especially of an unwelcome situation, shortage, or physical pain).
"The region is facing an acute shortage of clean drinking water following the prolonged drought."
Having or showing a quick, perceptive, and penetrating intelligence, insight, or sensitivity (of a person, mind, or physical sense).
"Her acute observation of the market trends allowed the company to adapt before its competitors."
Coming rapidly to a crisis or peak; having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course (of a disease or medical condition).
"The patient was admitted to the emergency room with acute appendicitis."
Measuring less than 90 degrees, or tapering to a sharp point (of an angle or geometric tip).
"An equilateral triangle has three equal sides and three acute angles measuring 60 degrees each."
• noun
An acute accent; an oblique diacritical mark (´) placed above a vowel in various languages to indicate stress, pitch, or vowel quality.
"In French orthography, an acute is placed over the letter 'e' to change its pronunciation."
Word Nuance & Usage
In medical and general contexts, 'acute' describes a condition that is sudden, severe, and short-lived, contrasting directly with 'chronic', which refers to a condition that develops slowly and persists over a long period.
• Rhymes for acute
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin 'acutus' ('sharp, pointed, or penetrating'), the past participle of 'acuere' ('to sharpen'), derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ak- ('sharp').