Main Entry: acute
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈkyüt\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): acut·er; acut·est
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : characterized by sharpness or severity {acute pain} (2) : having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course {acute disease} (3) : being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for serious illness or traumatic injury) {acute hospitals} {an acute patient} b : lasting a short time {acute experiments}
2 : ending in a sharp point: as a : being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees {an acute angle} b : composed of acute angles {an acute triangle}
3 a of an accent mark : having the form ´ b : marked with an acute accent c : of the variety indicated by an acute accent
4 a : marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions : penetrating {an acute thinker} b : responsive to slight impressions or stimuli {acute hearing}
5 : felt, perceived, or experienced intensely {acute distress}
6 : seriously demanding urgent attention {an acute emergency}
2 : ending in a sharp point: as a : being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees {an acute angle} b : composed of acute angles {an acute triangle}
3 a of an accent mark : having the form ´ b : marked with an acute accent c : of the variety indicated by an acute accent
4 a : marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions : penetrating {an acute thinker} b : responsive to slight impressions or stimuli {acute hearing}
5 : felt, perceived, or experienced intensely {acute distress}
6 : seriously demanding urgent attention {an acute emergency}
— acute·ly adverb
— acute·ness noun
