I. əˈkyüt, usu -üd.+V adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Latin acutus, past participle of acuere to sharpen, from acus needle; akin to Latin acer sharp — more at edge
1. : ending in a sharp point : not blunt at the end: as
a. of an angle : measuring less than 90 degrees : not right or obtuse
fences … so laid out that acute corners are avoided — Henry Wynmalen
— see angle illustration
b. of a figure : marked by or composed of acute angles
an acute triangle
c. of a leaf apex : abruptly pointed : not tapering
2.
a. : marked by keen shrewd discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions : penetrating
people of acute judgment and refined sensibilities — Elinor Wylie
the fame of an acute thinker — V.L.Parrington
b. : sensing or perceiving accurately, clearly, effectively, or sensitively
acute observer
acute vision, the ability to see sharp instead of blurred, is uncommon … in the animal kingdom — A.L.Kroeber
3. of a sound : high in pitch : sharp , shrill
an acute note
4. : felt, perceived, or experienced intensely or powerfully
the stench was acute — Norman Mailer
the incident … seemed to cause … acute distress — Dorothy Sayers
5.
a. medicine
(1) : characterized by sharpness or severity
acute pain
acute infection
(2) of a pathologic process : having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course
acute disease
acute inflammation
— opposed to chronic
(3) : for the treatment of acute diseases
an acute hospital
b. : serious, urgent, and demanding attention : intensified or aggravated nearly to a crisis, culmination, or breaking point
there was an acute shortage of houses after the war
: extreme , severe , critical
6.
a. of an accent mark : having the form ´
b. : marked with an acute accent
an acute e in canapé
c. : of the variety indicated by an acute accent
an acute intonation
Synonyms:
critical , crucial : acute most commonly indicates intensification, sometimes rapid, of a situation demanding notice and showing signs of some definite resolution
intimately associated with Indian affairs was the pressing question of defense. … Pontiac's rebellion made the issue acute — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
when the food shortage became acute in New Haven, the junior class of Yale College was moved to Glastonbury — American Guide Series: Connecticut
critical may describe an approach to a crisis or turning point and may imply an imminent outcome or resolution
the war has reached a new critical phase … we have moved into active and continuing battle — F.D.Roosevelt
the critical lack of rubber in the last war was finally beaten by the development of synthetic rubber plants capable of turning out 1,000,000 tons a year — Collier's Year Book
crucial applies to an actual crisis situation, often one viewed with fear, worry, or suspense, and implies a speedily ensuing decisive or definitive outcome
a continuous evolution, punctuated by the sudden flaming or flowering of a crucial moment now and then — J.L.Lowes
the next few months are crucial. What we do now will affect our American way of life for decades to come — H.S.Truman
Synonym: see in addition sharp .
II. noun
( -s )
: an acute accent used to show that a vowel is pronounced with a rise of pitch (as in ancient Greek), that a vowel has a certain quality (as over e in French), that a vowel is long (as in Hungarian), that a syllable has the highest degree of stress (as in Spanish or in phonetic transcription), or that a final e in a word in an English context is not silent (as in maté )
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: acute (II)
: to mark with an acute accent : pronounce with higher pitch
acute your inflection