- very 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.
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- an acute illness is one that has quickly become severe and dangerous
- acute appendicitis
- describing or designed for patients suffering from an acute illness
- acute patients
- an acute ward
- (of the senses) very sensitive and well developed synonym keen
- Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
- intelligent and quick to notice and understand things
- He is an acute observer of the social scene.
- Her judgement is acute.
- [usually before noun] (geometry) (of an angle) less than 90° compare obtuse (2)
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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acute