acute
adjective
1. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
- acute appendicitis
- the acute phase of the illness
- acute patients
Similar word(s): subacute
2. extremely sharp or severe
- acute pain
- felt acute annoyance
Similar word(s): sharp, intense
3. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
- an acute observer of politics and politicians
Similar word(s): perceptive, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp
4. of an angle; less than 90 degrees
5. ending in a sharp point
Similar word(s): pointed, acuate, needlelike, sharp
6. of critical importance and consequence
- an acute (or critical) lack of research funds
Similar word(s): critical
Sentences with acute as an adjective:
- His need for medical attention was acute.
- She had an acute sense of honor.
- It was an acute event.
- He dropped dead of an acute illness.
- The acute symptoms resolved promptly.
- The last letter of “café” is ‘e’ acute.
- an acute tone or accent
noun
1. a mark placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
Similar word(s): ague
Definition categories: communication, accent
Sentences with acute as a noun:
- The word “cafe” often has an acute over the ‘e’.
verb
1. (phonetics) To give an acute sound to.
- He acutes his rising inflection too much.