Acute \A*cute"\, a. [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr.
a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.]
1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; --
opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an
acute leaf.
2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute
distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to
dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks,
or reasoning.
3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight
impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen;
intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling;
acute pain or pleasure.
4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; --
opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.
5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity,
and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic;
as, an acute disease.
Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.
Syn: Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious;
sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See
Subtile.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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