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Webster 1913 Edition

Acute

A-cute′

,
Adj.
[L.
acutus
, p. p. of
acuere
to sharpen, fr. a root
ak
to be sharp. Cf.
Ague
,
Cute
,
Edge
.]
1.
Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; – opposed to
blunt
or
obtuse
;
as, an
acute
angle; an
acute
leaf.
2.
Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; – opposed to
dull
or
stupid
;
as, an
acute
observer;
acute
remarks, or reasoning.
3.
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.
4.
High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; – opposed to
grave
or
low
;
as, an
acute
tone or accent
.
5.
(Med.)
Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; – opposed to
chronic
;
as, an
acute
disease
.
AS
Acute angle
(Geom.)
,
an angle less than a right angle.
Syn. – Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See
Subtile
.

A-cute′

,
Verb.
T.
To give an acute sound to;
as, he
acutes
his rising inflection too much
.
[R.]
Walker.

Webster 1828 Edition

Acute

ACU'TE

,
Adj.
[L. acutus, sharp-pointed; Heb.]
1.
Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; opposed to blunt or obtuse. An acute angle in geometry, is one which is less than a right angle, or which subtends less than ninety degrees. An acute angled triangle is one whose three angles are all acute, or less than ninety degrees each.
2.
Figuratively, applied to mental powers; penetrating; having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; opposed to dull or stupid; as an acute reasoner.
3.
Applied to the senses; having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible of slight impressions; having power to feel or perceive small objects; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling.
4.
An acute disease, is one which is attended with violent symptoms, and comes speedily to a crisis, as a pleurisy; opposed to chronic.
5.
An acute disease, is one which is attended with violent symptoms, and comes speedily to a crisis, as a pleurisy; opposed to chronic.
6.
In music, acute is applied to a tone which is sharp, or high; opposed to grave.
7.
In botany, ending in an acute angle, as a leaf or perianth.

Definition 2024

acute

acute

See also: acuté

English

Adjective

acute ‎(comparative acuter or more acute, superlative acutest or most acute)

  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 July-August, Philip J. Bushnell, “Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance”, in American Scientist:
      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.
    It was an acute event.‎
  4. (geometry) Of an angle, less than 90 degrees.
  5. (geometry) Of a triangle, having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
  6. (botany) With the sides meeting directly to form an acute angle (at a apex or base)
    • The corollas of the plant species Eremophila abietina have acute lobes.
      2007, R. J. Chinnock, Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae:
      204. Eremophila abietina ... Corolla 23–35 mm long, ... lobes acute.
  7. (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.‎
  8. (medicine) Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity.
    • 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193:
      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.
    The acute symptoms resolved promptly.‎
  9. (orthography, after a letter) Having an acute accent.
    The last letter of “café” is ‘e’ acute.‎
  10. High or shrill.
    an acute tone or accent

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

acute ‎(plural acutes)

  1. (orthography) An acute accent.
    The word “cafe” often has an acute over the ‘e’.
  2. A person who has the acute form of a disorder, such as schizophrenia.

Translations

Verb

acute ‎(third-person singular simple present acutes, present participle acuting, simple past and past participle acuted)

  1. (phonetics) To give an acute sound to.
    He acutes his rising inflection too much.

Translations

Anagrams

Asturian

Verb

acute

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of acutar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of acutar

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɑˈky.tə/

Adjective

acute

  1. Inflected form of acuut.

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aˈkute/

Adjective

acute

  1. feminine plural of acuto

Anagrams

Latin

Participle

acūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of acūtus

References

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əˈkjuːt/
  • Rhymes: -uːt

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