Acerb \A*cerb"\, a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe. See Acrid.]

Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp and harsh. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

acerb adj
1: sour or bitter in taste [syn: acerbic, astringent, sharp]
2: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, venomous, virulent, vitriolic]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Acerb \A*cerb"\, a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe. See Acrid.]

Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp and harsh.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)