1. Of critical importance and consequence
   "an acute (or critical) lack of research funds"
    
2. Extremely sharp or strongly felt
   "acute pain"; "felt acute annoyance";
   - intense
    
3. (medicine) having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
   "acute patients"; "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"
    
4. Having or showing quick and precise discernment or understanding; mentally perceptive and astute
   "an acute observer of politics and politicians";
   - discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp
    
5. Ending in a piercing point; pointed
   "The acute tip of the needle easily penetrated the fabric";
   - acuate, sharp, needlelike
    
6. Of an angle; less than 90 degrees
   "The triangle had one acute angle measuring 45 degrees"

1. A mark placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
   "The acute accent in 'résumé' affects how the 'e' is pronounced";
   - acute accent

Derived forms: acutest, acutes, acuter

See also: critical, perceptive, pointed, sharp, subacute

Type of: accent, accent mark

Antonym: chronic, obtuse

Encyclopedia: Acute