acute
//əˈkjuːt//
Adjective
acuteCanonical form
more acuteComparative
most acuteSuperlative
1
(of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree
The country is facing an acute shortage of food and water.
2
(of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of short duration
She was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and recovered within two weeks.
3
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd
She made some acute observations about the company's problems.
4
(of an angle) less than 90 degrees
An acute angle measures less than 90 degrees.
5
(of a sound) high; shrill
The acute whistle pierced the silence of the night.
Noun
1
an acute accent (´) placed over certain letters in some languages to indicate pronunciation or stress
The word 'café' has an acute over the letter 'e'.