ACUTE
What does "ACUTE" mean?
Sharp, intense, or severe; or, of an angle, less than 90 degrees.
Meanings
- Severe, intense, or critical, especially of a condition or shortage. There is an acute shortage of nurses in the region.
- In medicine, having a rapid onset and short course, as opposed to chronic. He was treated for acute appendicitis. technical
- Keen or perceptive; quick to notice. She has an acute sense of smell.
- In geometry, of an angle, measuring less than 90 degrees. An equilateral triangle has three acute angles. technical
Word origin
From Latin 'acutus' ('sharpened'), past participle of 'acuere' (to sharpen), from 'acus' (needle) and the root 'acer' (sharp) - kin to 'acrid' and 'acid'.
Remember it
An ACUTE angle is the 'cute' little one - small and sharp, under 90 degrees, A-CUTE.
A little poem
The needle's first prick-
sudden, narrow, hard to miss,
then gone like a thought.
haiku
Wordplay
- Why was the small angle so well liked? It was a-cute - sharp, under ninety, and never obtuse.
What it teaches
Acute pain demands attention; it is the chronic kind, quiet and constant, that we wrongly learn to ignore.
Quick facts
What does ACUTE mean?
Sharp, intense, or severe; or, of an angle, less than 90 degrees.
Is ACUTE a valid word?
Yes — ACUTE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is ACUTE?
ACUTE has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does ACUTE come from?
From Latin 'acutus' ('sharpened'), past participle of 'acuere' (to sharpen), from 'acus' (needle) and the root 'acer' (sharp) - kin to 'acrid' and 'acid'.
What can ACUTE teach us?
Acute pain demands attention; it is the chronic kind, quiet and constant, that we wrongly learn to ignore.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.