a·cute
(ə-kyōōt́)
[Latin acūtus past participle of acuere, to sharpen, from acus, needle.]
adjective
- Having a sharp point or tip.
- Keenly perceptive or discerning: “a raw, chilling and psychologically acute novel of human passions reduced to their deadliest essence” (Literary Guild Magazine) See synonyms at sharp
- Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive: His hearing was unusually acute.
- Of great importance or consequence; crucial: an acute lack of research funds.
- Extremely sharp or severe; intense: acute pain; acute relief.
- Medicine
- Having a rapid onset and following a short but severe course: acute disease.
- Afflicted by a disease exhibiting a rapid onset followed by a short, severe course: acute patients.
- Music High in pitch; shrill.
- Geometry Having an acute angle: an acute triangle.
derivatives
- a·cutély
- adverb
- a·cuténess
- noun
