Acute

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈkjuːt/
• Rhymes: -uːt

Origin

From Latin acūtus ("sharp"), perfect passive participle of acuō ("sharpen, make sharp"). Cognate to ague ("acute, intermittent fever").

Full definition of acute

Adjective

1. Urgent.
   His need for medical attention was acute.
2. Sensitive.
   She had an acute sense of honor.   Eagles have very acute vision.
3. Short, quick, brief.
• 2013, Philip J. Bushnell, Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance, Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.
4. It was an acute event.
5. (geometry) Of an angle, less than 90 degrees.
6. (geometry) Of a triangle, having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
7. (botany, of leaves) With the sides meeting directly to form a pointed acute angle at the apex, base, or both.
8. (medicine) Of an abnormal condition of recent or sudden onset, in contrast to delayed onset; this sense does not imply severity (unlike the common usage).
   He dropped dead of an acute illness.
9. (medicine) Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity.
• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.
10. The acute symptoms resolved promptly.
11. (orthography, after a letter) Having an acute accent.
    The last letter of “café” is ‘e’ acute.
12. High or shrill.an acute tone or accent

Synonyms

• (urgent) pressing, urgent, emergent, sudden
• (sensitive) intense, powerful, strong, sharp, keen
• (quick) fast, rapid
• (triangle) acute-angled
• (leaf shape) obtuse

Antonyms

• (sensitive) dull, witless, obtuse, slow
• (angle) obtuse
• (quick) slow, leisurely
• (triangle) obtuse, obtuse-angled
• (medicine: condition) chronic

Derived terms

• acutance
• acuity
• acute-angled
• acute accent
• acuteness

Related terms

• ague

Noun

1. (orthography) An acute accent.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.

Anagrams

• Ceuta