acute

[ uh-kyoot ]

/ əˈkyut /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR acute ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow; an acute pain.

extremely great or serious; crucial; critical: an acute shortage of oil.

(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.

consisting of, indicated by, or bearing the mark ´, 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.

noun

the acute accent.

Nearby words

acupuncture, acupuncturist, acus, acusector, acutance, acute, acute abdomen, acute accent, acute adrenocortical insufficiency, acute african sleeping sickness, acute alcoholism

Origin of acute

1560–70; < Latin acūtus sharpened, past participle of acuere (acū-, v. stem, akin to acus needle, ācer sharp + -tus past participle suffix)

SYNONYMS FOR acute

3 sudden, distressing, violent.

4 keen, astute, discerning, perceptive, intelligent, perspicacious; sharp-witted, clever, smart, bright, ingenious, brilliant; knowing, wise, sage, sagacious, sapient.

5 keen.

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ANTONYMS FOR acute

1, 4, 5 dull.

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Related forms

a·cute·ly, adverba·cute·ness, nounhy·per·a·cute, adjectivehy·per·a·cute·ly, adverb

hy·per·a·cute·ness, nounnon·a·cute, adjectivenon·a·cute·ly, adverbnon·a·cute·ness, nouno·ver·a·cute, adjectiveo·ver·a·cute·ly, adverbo·ver·a·cute·ness, nounsu·per·a·cute, adjectivesu·per·a·cute·ly, adverbsu·per·a·cute·ness, noun

Can be confused

acute chronic

Synonym study

4. Acute, penetrating, shrewd imply a keenness of understanding, perception, or insight. Acute suggests particularly a clearness of perception and a realization of related meanings: an acute intellect. Penetrating adds the idea of depth of perception and a realization of implications: a wise and penetrating judgment. Shrewd adds the idea of knowing how to apply practically (or to one's own advantage) what one perceives and understands: wary and shrewd.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for acute

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
And my teenage daughters went into the town to shop at cute stores selling cute things at acute prices.
Why I Hate The Beach|P. J. O’Rourke|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My early years were a mix of acute loneliness and great freedom.
An Author at Home in Lonely Landscapes|Letitia Trent|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The authors collected data related to 54 different causes of death that could be attributed to alcohol, both chronic and acute.
Excessive Drinking Kills 1 in 10 Americans|Russell Saunders|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its course is slower, it is less severe, and is not accompanied with so much fever as the acute form.
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture
In acute poisoning (especially by the corrosive salts) the changes are great and striking.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
Until the diagnosis is thoroughly established, soothing applications, such as are employed in acute eczema, are to be advised.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
When the subject is caused to walk, symptoms of excruciating pain are manifested in all acute cases of laminitis.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix
But even if I knew that it had, I should always remember that Christmas night of 1870 with acute regret.
Princess Mary's Gift Book|Various

British Dictionary definitions for acute

acute

/ (əˈkjuːt) /

adjective

penetrating in perception or insight

sensitive to details; keen

of extreme importance; crucial

sharp or severe; intenseacute 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 durationCompare 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), etcCompare (for senses 8a, 8b): grave, circumflex

(of a hospital, hospital bed, or ward) intended to accommodate short-term patients with acute illnesses

noun

an acute accent

Derived Forms

acutely, adverbacuteness, noun

Word Origin for acute

C14: from Latin acūtus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle

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

Medicine definitions for acute

acute

[ ə-kyōōt′ ]

adj.

Pointed at the end; sharp.

Of or relating to a disease or a condition with a rapid onset and a short, severe course.

Of or relating to a patient afflicted with such a disease.

Science definitions for acute

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.