Dictionary.com
definitions

acute disease

A disease or disorder that lasts a short time, comes on rapidly, and is accompanied by distinct symptoms. (Compare chronic disease.)

RELATED CONTENT

DDFRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Why Exposure Is Our 2014 Word Of The YearIn 2014, the Ebola virus, widespread theft of personal information, and shocking acts of violence and brutality dominated the news. Vulnerability and visibility were at the core of the year’s most notable headlines. Encapsulating those themes, Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year for 2014 is exposure. The word exposure entered English in the early 1600s to refer to a state of being without shelter or protection. …
READ MORE

Nearby words

  1. acute brachial radiculitis,
  2. acute brain disorder,
  3. acute bulbar poliomyelitis,
  4. acute compression triad,
  5. acute contagious conjunctivitis,
  6. acute disseminated encephalomyelitis,
  7. acute dose,
  8. acute epidemic leukoencephalitis,
  9. acute glaucoma,
  10. acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.