a·cute 
(ə-kyt)
(ə-kyt)adj.
1.
a. Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive: His hearing was unusually acute.
b. Keenly perceptive or discerning: an acute critic of music; a critic with acute judgment. See Synonyms at sharp.
2. Extremely sharp or severe; intense: acute pain; acute pleasure.
3. Of great importance or consequence; critical: an acute shortage of funds.
4. Medicine
a. Having a rapid onset and following a short but severe course: an acute disease.
b. Afflicted by a disease exhibiting a rapid onset followed by a short, severe course: acute patients.
5. High in pitch; shrill: an acute scream.
6.
a. Narrowly pointed; sharp: an acute leaf.
b. Having an acute angle: an acute triangle.
[Latin acūtus, past participle of acuere, to sharpen, from acus, needle; see ak- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
a·cutely adv.
a·cuteness n.