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acute - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'acute' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Acute [ a.]
- Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf.
- Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.
- Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure.
- High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.
- Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease.
2 . Acute [ v. t.]
- To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much.

Meaning of 'acute' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . acute [ a]
Meaning (1):
- having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
Example in sentence:
  • acute appendicitis;
  • acute patients;
  • the acute phase of the illness
2 . acute [ s]
Meaning (2):
- extremely sharp or severe
Example in sentence:
  • acute pain;
  • felt acute annoyance;
  • intense itching and burning
Meaning (3):
- of critical importance and consequence
Example in sentence:
  • an acute (or critical) lack of research funds
Meaning (4):
- having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
Example in sentence:
  • an acute observer of politics and politicians;
  • as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang;
  • frequent penetrative observations;
  • icy knifelike reasoning;
  • incisive comments;
  • penetrating insight

Nearby Words:

acuate acuation acuition acuity aculeate aculeated aculei aculeiform aculeolate aculeous

See 'acute' also in:

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Related Definitions

  • Acute disease
    Acute disease is a short-term disease (such as influenza or pneumonia) from which a person either dies or recovers.
  • Acute radiation syndrome
    Acute radiation syndrome is an acute illness caused by irradiation of the body by a high dose of penetrating radiation in a very short period of time. Also called ARS.
  • Acute Cholecystitis
    Acute cholecystitis produces discomfort in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium.

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