acute
Translation
severe, sharp, serious, perceptive
Examples
He had an acute pain in his chest.
He had an acute pain in his chest.
Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
There is an acute shortage of water.
There is an acute shortage of water.
An acute angle is less than 90 degrees.
An acute angle is less than 90 degrees.
Grammar Patterns
an acute ((noun)) a severe, sharp, or serious ((noun)) She has an acute awareness of the problem.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sharp, severe, keen; Antonyms: chronic, dull, obtuse
Etymology
From Latin 'acutus', meaning 'sharpened, pointed'.
Memory Tips
Think of a sharp point: it can describe a pain (severe), a sense (keen), or an angle (less than 90°).