acerb

English

Etymology

Latin acerbus, from acer sharp: compare French acerbe. See acrid

Pronunciation

a*cerb AAH-suhrb

Adjective

acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)

1. Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.
2. Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

Synonyms

• acerbic

Related terms

• acerbate
• acerbically
• acerbity
• exacerbate

Translations

bitter to the taste

• Finnish: kitkerä (fi)
• French: acerbe (fr)
• Italian: acerbo (it)

• Latin: acerbus (la)
• Portuguese: acerbo (pt)
• Spanish: acerbo (es)

sharp and harsh in expression

• Finnish: pureva (fi), kitkerä (fi)

References

• acerb in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• brace, caber, cabre, cabré