acute

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

acute [acute acuter acutest] BrE [əˈkjuːt] NAmE [əˈkjuːt] adjective
1. 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.
2. an acute illness is one that has quickly become severe and dangerous
•acute appendicitis
Opp: ↑chronic
3. (of the senses)very sensitive and well developed
Syn: ↑keen
•Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
4. intelligent and quick to notice and understand things
•He is an acute observer of the social scene.
•Her judgement is acute.
5. (geometry) (of an angle)less than 90°
Derived Word: ↑acuteness

Word Origin:
late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.

Example Bank:
•He was suffering from acute chest pains.
•She determined to do something about the world's acute environmental problems.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  acuate, sharp, needlelike, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, intense, acute accent, ague
• Từ trái nghĩa / Antonyms:
  obtuse, chronic