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acute

a·cute

acute

 
 
pronunciation:
kyut
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: of great severity or intensity.
The patient is experiencing acute pain in the abdomen.When the hunger pangs became acute, she allowed herself to eat a little.
synonyms:
intense, severe
antonyms:
mild
similar words:
extreme, fierce, profound
definition 2: keen; sharp; sensitive.
A horse has an acute sense of hearing.She has an acute sensitivity to the feelings of others.
synonyms:
discriminating, keen, penetrating, perspicacious, sensitive, sharp
antonyms:
dull
similar words:
astute, discerning, incisive, mordant, perceptive, pointed, pungent
definition 3: very critical; crucial.
There was an acute shortage of medical supplies at the field hospital.
synonyms:
critical
antonyms:
negligible
similar words:
crucial, desperate, drastic, extreme, pressing, serious, severe, urgent
definition 4: of a disease, occurring suddenly, then rapidly progressing to a peak and coming shortly to an end. (Cf. chronic.)
Acute rheumatic fever can cause damage to the valves of the heart.Typhoid fever is an acute disease.
antonyms:
chronic
definition 5: in geometry, of less than ninety degrees.
an acute angle
antonyms:
obtuse
definition 6: sharp or pointed at the end.
synonyms:
acuminate, pointed
antonyms:
blunt, obtuse
similar words:
barbed, cuspidate, keen, peaked, sharp
definition 7: of a mark over vowels, indicating a certain stress or pronunciation. (See acute accent.)
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derivations: acutely (adv.), acuteness (n.)
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