acute
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin acūtus (“sharp”), perfect passive participle of acuō (“sharpen, make sharp”). Cognate to ague (“acute, intermittent fever”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
acute (comparative acuter or more acute, superlative acutest or most acute)
- Urgent.
- His need for medical attention was acute.
- sensitive
- She had an acute sense of honor.
- Eagles have very acute vision.
- Short, quick.
- It was an acute event.
- (geometry) Of an angle, less than 90 degrees.
- (geometry) Of a triangle, having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees.
- (botany, of leaves) With the sides meeting directly to form a pointed acute angle at the apex, base, or both.
- (medicine) Of an abnormal condition of recent or sudden onset, in contrast to delayed onset; this sense does not imply severity (unlike the common usage).
- He dropped dead of an acute illness.
- (medicine) Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity.
- The acute symptoms resolved promptly.
- (orthography, after a letter) Having an acute accent.
- The last letter of “café” is ‘e’ acute.
[edit] Synonyms
- (urgent): pressing, urgent, emergent, sudden
- (sensitive): intense, powerful, strong, sharp, keen
- (quick): fast, rapid
- (triangle): acute-angled
- (leaf shape): obtuse
[edit] Antonyms
- (sensitive): dull, witless, obtuse, slow
- (angle): obtuse
- (quick): slow, leisurely
- (triangle): obtuse, obtuse-angled
- (medicine: condition): chronic
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
urgent
sensitive
geometry: of an angle
geometry: acute-angled — see acute-angled
botany: having an acute angle
medicine: of an abnormal condition
medicine: of a short-lived condition
orthography: letter with acute accent
[edit] Noun
acute (plural acutes)
- (orthography) An acute accent.
- The word “cafe” often has an acute over the ‘e’.
[edit] Translations
acute accent — see acute accent
[edit] Verb
acute (third-person singular simple present acutes, present participle acuting, simple past and past participle acuted)
- (phonetics) To give an acute sound to.
- He acutes his rising inflection too much.
[edit] Translations
give an acute sound
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɑˈky.tə/
[edit] Adjective
acute
- inflected form of acuut.
[edit] Italian
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /aˈkuːte/
[edit] Adjective
acute f.
- feminine plural form of acuto.
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Latin
[edit] Participle
acūte
- vocative masculine singular of acūtus