acerb \əˈsərb, aˈ-, -ə̄b\adjective (sometimes-er/-est) Etymology: French or Latin; French acerbe, from Latin acerbus, from acer sharp — more at edge 1.: acid or sour to the taste < acerb apples > 2.: acid in temper, mood, or tone : sharply or bitingly ironic, sarcastic, or critical < an acerb time of it sticking pins in the balloons of his pretensions — Time >