acute

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈkjuːt/
• American: uh-KYOOT

Origin

From Latin "acutus" meaning "sharp, pointed", derived from "acuere" (to sharpen)

Meanings

1. (adjective) Sharp or severe; intense

   • The patient experienced acute pain in his lower back.
   • The country faces an acute shortage of clean water.

2. (adjective) Having a sharp point or end

   • The triangle has an acute angle measuring less than 90 degrees.
   • The leaf has an acute tip.

3. (adjective) Highly developed; keen

   • She has an acute sense of hearing.
   • His acute business mind helped the company succeed.

4. (medical) Coming to a crisis quickly; having severe symptoms but short duration

   • The patient was diagnosed with acute appendicitis.
   • He suffered from an acute respiratory infection.

Related Words

• Forms: acutely (adv), acuteness (n)
• Synonyms:
  • sharp, severe, intense
  • keen, astute, perceptive
  • critical, serious, grave

Memory Tricks

1. Think "A CUTE" angle is sharp and pointed (less than 90°)
2. Remember that acute problems are sharp/intense like acute pain
3. Link to "cute" - something that catches your attention sharply/immediately

Usage Notes

• Often confused with "chronic" (long-lasting) in medical contexts
• Frequently used in mathematics for angles less than 90 degrees
• Common in phrases like "acute stress," "acute hearing," "acute crisis"