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   acute

   /əˈkjuːt/

   adjective

   • 1. (of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree: "an acute housing shortage" Similar severecriticaldrasticdiredreadfulterribleawfulgravebadseriousprofoundurgentpressingdesperateall-importantvitaldangeroushazardousperilousprecariouslife-threateninglife-and-deatharchaic:parlousrare:egregiousOpposite negligible
   • ▪ (of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of short duration: "acute appendicitis" Similar stabbingshootingpenetratingpiercingsharpkeenrackingsearingburningconsumingfierceferociousintensesevereextremeexcruciatingagonizinggrievoushellishtorturoustormentingunbearableinsufferableunendurablemore than one can bearmore than flesh and blood can standliterary:exquisitesevereintenseshort-lastingperacuteinformal:short and sharpOpposite dullmildchronic
   • ▪ denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease: "an acute ward"
   • 2. having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd: "an acute awareness of changing fashions" Similar astuteshrewdsharpsharp-wittedrazor-sharprapier-likequickquick-wittedagilenimbleingeniouscleverintelligentbrightbrilliantsmartcannyintuitivediscerningperceptiveperspicaciouspenetratinginsightfulincisivepiercingdiscriminatingsagaciouswisejudiciousinformal:on the ballquick off the markquick on the uptakebrainystreetwisesavvysusspawkyheads-upwhip-smartdated, informal:long-headedrare:argutesapientOpposite slow-witted
   • ▪ (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen: "an acute sense of smell" Similar keensharpgoodpenetratingdiscerningperceptivesensitivesubtleOpposite poor
   • 3. (of an angle) less than 90°.
   • ▪ having a sharp end; pointed.
   • 4. (of a sound) high; shrill.

   noun

   • 1. short for acute accent

   Word Origin late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. acuteness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › acuteAcute Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › acute

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   a (1) : characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset. acute pain. (2) : of rapid onset and relatively short duration. acute illness. see also acute disease. (3) : being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for acute disease or traumatic injury)

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishACUTE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   ACUTE definition: 1. If a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage: 2. An acute pain or illness…. Learn more.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryACUTE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   ACUTE meaning: 1. If a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage: 2. An acute pain or illness…. Learn more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishACUTE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   An acute illness is one that becomes severe very quickly but does not last very long. Compare chronic.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishacute adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of acute adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › acuteAcute - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › acute

   The word acute is one word; it's not two words, nor does it have anything to do with something small, cuddly, and pretty! Acute really means "sharp" or "severe" or "intense" and modifies certain kinds of angles in geometry or describes a certain kind of illness of short duration.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishACUTE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   ACUTE definition: 1. An acute problem or negative feeling is extreme: 2. An acute angle is less than 90 degrees. 3…. Learn more.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › acuteAcute - definition of acute by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › acute

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   Define acute. acute synonyms, acute pronunciation, acute translation, English dictionary definition of acute. adj. 1. a. Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive: His hearing was unusually acute. b. Keenly perceptive or discerning: an acute critic of...

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › acuteAcute Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › acute

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    ACUTE meaning: 1 : very serious or dangerous requiring serious attention or action; 2 : having or showing an ability to think clearly and to understand what is not obvious or simple about something

11. www.oed.com › dictionary › acute_adjacute, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English...

    www.oed.com › dictionary › acute_adj

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    There are 16 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word acute. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.