acute
sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow;an acute pain.
(of disease) brief and severe (opposed to chronic).
sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight, or perception: an acute observer.
extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions: acute eyesight.
sharp at the end; ending in a point.
Geometry.
(of an angle) less than 90°.
(of a triangle) containing only acute angles.
Phonetics, Orthography. consisting of, indicated by, or bearing the diacritic ´, placed over vowel symbols in some languages to show that the vowels or the syllables they are in are pronounced in a certain way, as in French that the quality of an e so marked is close; in Hungarian that the vowel is long; in Spanish that the marked syllable bears the word accent; in Ibo that it is pronounced with high tones; or in classical Greek, where the mark originated, that the syllable bears the word accent and is pronounced, according to the ancient grammarians, with raised pitch (opposed to grave): the acute accent;an acute e.
Phonetics, Orthography. the acute accent.
Origin of acute
1synonym study For acute
Other words for acute
Opposites for acute
Other words from acute
- a·cute·ly, adverb
- a·cute·ness, noun
- hy·per·a·cute, adjective
- non·a·cute, adjective
- o·ver·a·cute, adjective
- su·per·a·cute, adjective
Words that may be confused with acute
- acute , chronic
Words Nearby acute
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use acute in a sentence
Otherwise, the public purse and citizens are deprived of funds for much needed investments – the need for which is even more acute now to support Europe’s economic recovery.
European Commission to appeal decision that reversed Apple’s $15B State Aid tax bill in Ireland | Ingrid Lunden | September 25, 2020 | TechCrunchI experience chronic sinusitis and headaches with fairly frequent acute infections.
My cancer might be back—and I wonder if unnecessary radiation caused it in the first place | jakemeth | September 22, 2020 | FortuneSo the hospital industry lobbied for a new kind of health system for older adults who were dependent on getting medical help but did not need acute care.
He Wanted to Fix Rural America’s Broken Nursing Homes. Now, Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $76 Million. | by Max Blau for Georgia Health News | September 22, 2020 | ProPublicaI am for more of it, not less, especially at this moment of acute need.
Why I’m giving up my board seat to make room for someone from an underrepresented community | jakemeth | September 21, 2020 | FortuneProPublica focused on those who remained — the 55 people who died outside of any acute care setting, in categories the coroner labeled “decedent residence,” “hospice” and “other care center,” which often included hospice deaths.
Exploitation of trafficking victims may be most acute in conflict and adjoining regions, but it is not confined to these areas.
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism | Louise I. Shelley | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis sense of vulnerability is, of course, even more acute in micro-states like Jamaica.
How Maurice Tomlinson Was Outed in Jamaica—and Forced Into Exile | Jay Michaelson | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHyperemesis Gravidarum is very acute morning sickness, which may require supplementary hydration, medication and nutrients.
The soil variations are acute enough that they can differ radically from one side of a road to another.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards | Clive Irving | August 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd my teenage daughters went into the town to shop at cute stores selling cute things at acute prices.
In acute and chronic parenchymatous nephritis the quantity is usually very large.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddRenal cells are abundant in parenchymatous nephritis, especially the acute form.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddThere was acute disharmony in the room, where a little time before there had been at least an outward show of harmony.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodAs they got lower and lower down the hill, her wretchedness and disquiet became acute, to the point of a wild despair.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettIt seemed quite the forlornest hope I had ever heard of, but Jack's distress was so acute that I hadn't the heart to refuse.
Uncanny Tales | Various
British Dictionary definitions for acute
/ (əˈkjuːt) /
penetrating in perception or insight
sensitive to details; keen
of extreme importance; crucial
sharp or severe; intense: acute pain; an acute drought
having a sharp end or point
maths
(of an angle) less than 90°
(of a triangle) having all its interior angles less than 90°
(of a disease)
arising suddenly and manifesting intense severity
of relatively short duration: Compare chronic (def. 2)
phonetics
(of a vowel or syllable in some languages with a pitch accent, such as ancient Greek) spoken or sung on a higher musical pitch relative to neighbouring syllables or vowels
of or relating to an accent (´) placed over vowels, denoting that the vowel is pronounced with higher musical pitch (as in ancient Greek), with a certain special quality (as in French), etc: Compare (for senses 8a, 8b): grave, circumflex
(of a hospital, hospital bed, or ward) intended to accommodate short-term patients with acute illnesses
an acute accent
Origin of acute
1Derived forms of acute
- acutely, adverb
- acuteness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for acute
[ ə-kyōōt′ ]
Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions, as hearing or eyesight; sensitive.
Relating to an illness that has a rapid onset and follows a short but severe course. Compare chronic.
Having an acute angle.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse