acute acute /əˈkjuːt/

adjective

1. () (medicine) having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course  ( acute )
   (medicine) having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
    Acute appendicitis
   acute appendicitis
    The acute phase of the illness
   the acute phase of the illness
    Acute patients
   acute patients
   
2. () Extremely sharp or severe  ( intense , acute )
   extremely sharp or severe
    Acute pain
   acute pain
    Felt acute annoyance
   felt acute annoyance
    Intense itching and burning
   intense itching and burning
   
3. () Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions  ( discriminating , knifelike , penetrative , acute , incisive , keen , penetrating , piercing , sharp )
   having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    An acute observer of politics and politicians
   an acute observer of politics and politicians
    Incisive comments
   incisive comments
    Icy knifelike reasoning
   icy knifelike reasoning
    As sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
   as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
    Penetrating insight
   penetrating insight
    Frequent penetrative observations
   frequent penetrative observations
   
4. Of critical importance and consequence  ( acute )
   of critical importance and consequence
    An acute (or critical) lack of research funds
   an acute (or critical) lack of research funds
   
5. Ending in a sharp point  ( acuate , acute , needlelike , sharp )
   ending in a sharp point
     The sharp knife easily cut through the tough meat.
   The sharp knife easily cut through the tough meat.
   
6. Of an angle; less than 90 degrees  ( acute )
   of an angle; less than 90 degrees
   

noun

1. A mark placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation  ( acute , acute accent , ague )
   a mark placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation