sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow;an acute pain.
extremely great or serious; crucial; critical: an acute shortage of oil.
(of disease) brief and severe (opposed to chronic).
sharp or penetrating in intellect, insight, or perception: an acute observer.
extremely sensitive even to slight details or impressions: acute eyesight.
sharp at the end; ending in a point.
Geometry.
(of an angle) less than 90°.
(of a triangle) containing only acute angles.
consisting of, indicated by, or bearing the mark ´, placed over vowel symbols in some languages to show that the vowels or the syllables they are in are pronounced in a certain way, as in French that the quality of an e so marked is close; in Hungarian that the vowel is long; in Spanish that the marked syllable bears the word accent; in Ibo that it is pronounced with high tones; or in classical Greek, where the mark originated, that the syllable bears the word accent and is pronounced, according to the ancient grammarians, with raised pitch (opposed to grave): the acute accent; an acute e.
noun
the acute accent.
Origin of acute
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin acūtus “sharpened,” past participle of acuere (acū-, verb stem, akin to acus “needle,” ācer “sharp” + -tus past participle suffix)
4. Acute,penetrating,shrewd imply a keenness of understanding, perception, or insight. Acute suggests particularly a clearness of perception and a realization of related meanings: an acute intellect.Penetrating adds the idea of depth of perception and a realization of implications: a wise and penetrating judgment.Shrewd adds the idea of knowing how to apply practically (or to one's own advantage) what one perceives and understands: wary and shrewd.
Otherwise, the public purse and citizens are deprived of funds for much needed investments – the need for which is even more acute now to support Europe’s economic recovery.
European Commission to appeal decision that reversed Apple’s $15B State Aid tax bill in Ireland|Ingrid Lunden|September 25, 2020|TechCrunch
I experience chronic sinusitis and headaches with fairly frequent acute infections.
My cancer might be back—and I wonder if unnecessary radiation caused it in the first place|jakemeth|September 22, 2020|Fortune
So the hospital industry lobbied for a new kind of health system for older adults who were dependent on getting medical help but did not need acute care.
He Wanted to Fix Rural America’s Broken Nursing Homes. Now, Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $76 Million.|by Max Blau for Georgia Health News|September 22, 2020|ProPublica
I am for more of it, not less, especially at this moment of acute need.
Why I’m giving up my board seat to make room for someone from an underrepresented community|jakemeth|September 21, 2020|Fortune
ProPublica focused on those who remained — the 55 people who died outside of any acute care setting, in categories the coroner labeled “decedent residence,” “hospice” and “other care center,” which often included hospice deaths.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica
Exploitation of trafficking victims may be most acute in conflict and adjoining regions, but it is not confined to these areas.
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century Terrorism|Louise I. Shelley|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The soil variations are acute enough that they can differ radically from one side of a road to another.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards|Clive Irving|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And my teenage daughters went into the town to shop at cute stores selling cute things at acute prices.
Why I Hate The Beach|P. J. O’Rourke|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My early years were a mix of acute loneliness and great freedom.
An Author at Home in Lonely Landscapes|Letitia Trent|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The authors collected data related to 54 different causes of death that could be attributed to alcohol, both chronic and acute.
Its course is slower, it is less severe, and is not accompanied with so much fever as the acute form.
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse|United States Department of Agriculture
In acute poisoning (especially by the corrosive salts) the changes are great and striking.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
Until the diagnosis is thoroughly established, soothing applications, such as are employed in acute eczema, are to be advised.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
When the subject is caused to walk, symptoms of excruciating pain are manifested in all acute cases of laminitis.
Lameness of the Horse|John Victor Lacroix
But even if I knew that it had, I should always remember that Christmas night of 1870 with acute regret.
Princess Mary's Gift Book|Various
British Dictionary definitions for acute
acute
/ (əˈkjuːt) /
adjective
penetrating in perception or insight
sensitive to details; keen
of extreme importance; crucial
sharp or severe; intenseacute pain; an acute drought
having a sharp end or point
maths
(of an angle) less than 90°
(of a triangle) having all its interior angles less than 90°
(of a disease)
arising suddenly and manifesting intense severity
of relatively short durationCompare chronic (def. 2)
phonetics
(of a vowel or syllable in some languages with a pitch accent, such as ancient Greek) spoken or sung on a higher musical pitch relative to neighbouring syllables or vowels
of or relating to an accent (´) placed over vowels, denoting that the vowel is pronounced with higher musical pitch (as in ancient Greek), with a certain special quality (as in French), etcCompare (for senses 8a, 8b): grave, circumflex
(of a hospital, hospital bed, or ward) intended to accommodate short-term patients with acute illnesses
noun
an acute accent
Derived forms of acute
acutely, adverbacuteness, noun
Word Origin for acute
C14: from Latin acūtus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle