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