acute

adjective (acuter; acutest) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) characterized by sharpness or severity <

acute pain

> (2) having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course <

acute disease

> (3) being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for serious illness or traumatic injury) <

acute hospitals

> <

an acute patient

> b. lasting a short time <

acute experiments

> 2. ending in a sharp point: as a. being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees <

an acute angle

> b. composed of acute angles <

an acute triangle

> 3. a. of an accent mark having the form ˊ b. marked with an acute accent c. of the variety indicated by an acute accent 4. a. marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions ; penetrating <

an acute thinker

> b. responsive to slight impressions or stimuli <

acute hearing

> 5. felt, perceived, or experienced intensely <

acute distress

> 6. seriously demanding urgent attention <

an acute emergency

> • acutely adverb • acuteness noun Synonyms: acute, critical, crucial mean of uncertain outcome. acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point <

an acute housing shortage

>. critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome <

the war has entered a critical phase

>. crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction <

a crucial vote

>. Synonym: see in addition sharp.