English Explanatory Dictionary

acute

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Brief, quick, short.
  2. High or shrill.
  3. Intense; sensitive; sharp.
  4. Urgent.
  5. With the sides meeting directly to form an acute angle (at an apex or base).
  6. Less than 90 degrees.
  7. Having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
  8. Of an accent or tone: generally higher than others.
  9. Sharp, produced in the front of the mouth. (See Grave and acute on Wikipedia.Wikipedia )
  10. Of an abnormal condition of recent or sudden onset, in contrast to delayed onset; this sense does not imply severity, unlike the common usage.
  11. Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity.
  12. Of a letter of the alphabet, having an acute accent.
noun
  1. A person who has the acute form of a disorder, such as schizophrenia.
  2. An accent or tone higher than others.
  3. An acute accent (´).
verb
  1. To give an acute sound to.
  2. To make acute; to sharpen, to whet.

Pronunciation

/əˈkjuːt/ ə-kyo͞ot′ /əˈkjut/ en-us-acute.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-acute.wav en-au-acute.ogg

Word forms

acute acuter more acute acutest most acute acutes acuting acuted

Etymology

From Late Middle English acute (“of a disease or fever: starting suddenly and lasting for a short time; of a humour: irritating, sharp”), from Latin acūta, from acūtus (“sharp, sharpened”), perfect passive participle of acuō (“to make pointed, sharpen, whet”), from acus (“needle, pin”). The word is cognate to ague (“acute, intermittent fever”). As regards the noun, which is derived from the verb, compare Middle English acūte (“severe but short-lived fever; of blood: corrosiveness, sharpness; musical note of high pitch”).

Synonyms

fast rapid keen powerful strong peracute emergent pressing sudden acute-angled

Antonyms

leisurely slow grave dull obtuse witless subacute obtuse-angled chronic

Related words

ague

Derived words

accent acute acuity acutance acutangular acute abdo acute abdomen acute accent acute angle acute-angled acute-angled triangle acute aortic syndrome acute chest syndrome acute cystitis acute flaccid myelitis acute kidney failure acute kidney injury acutely acute lymphoblastic leukemia acute membranous gingivitis acute mountain sickness acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis acuteness acute oak decline acute otitis media acute-phase protein acute radiation syndrome acute renal failure acute respiratory distress syndrome acute retroviral syndrome acute sedge acute toxicity acute triangle acute ulcerative gingivitis acutish cute double acute accent fish acute toxicity syndrome gravo-acute accent hyperacute nonacute post-acute severe acute respiratory syndrome superacute unacute
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