Definition of 'acute'

Noun

1. a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
      Synonyms: acute accent ague

Adjective

1. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"; "acute patients"
      Antonyms: chronic
2. extremely sharp or intense; "acute pain"; "felt acute annoyance"; "intense itching and burning"
      Synonyms: intense
3. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
      Synonyms: discriminating incisive keen knifelike penetrating penetrative piercing sharp
4. of an angle; less than 90 degrees
      Antonyms: obtuse
5. ending in a sharp point
      Synonyms: acuate sharp needlelike
6. of critical importance and consequence; "an acute (or critical) lack of research funds"

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