- 1very serious or severe There is an acute shortage of water. acute pain the world’s acute environmental problems Competition for jobs is acute. The scandal was an acute embarrassment for the President. He was suffering from acute chest pains.
- 2an acute illness is one that has quickly become severe and dangerous acute appendicitis opposite chronic Wordfinderhealthacute, condition, health, medicine, outbreak, pain, recover, relapse, terminal, treatment See related entries: Being ill
- 3(of the senses) very sensitive and well developed synonym keen Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
- 4intelligent and quick to notice and understand things He is an acute observer of the social scene. Her judgement is acute.
- 5(geometry) (of an angle) less than 90° Word Originlate Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.
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