acute

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++a·cute /əˈkjuːt/ ●○○ adjective  1  problem 问题SERIOUS SITUATION an acute problem is very serious 严重的 The housing shortage is more acute than first thought. 住房短缺情况比一开始想的要严重。► see thesaurus at serious2  feeling 感觉 an acute feeling is very strong 强烈的，剧烈的 acute pain 剧痛 acute embarrassment 万分的尴尬 acute anxiety 极度的忧虑3  illness 疾病 technical an acute illness or disease quickly becomes very serious 急性的 OPP chronic acute arthritis 急性关节炎4  senses 感官HBHHBA acute senses such as hearing, taste, touch etc are very good and sensitive 灵敏的 Young children have a particularly acute sense of smell. 幼儿的嗅觉特别灵敏。5  intelligent 聪颖的 quick to notice and understand things 敏锐的，机敏的 SYN sharp Simon’s vague manner concealed an acute mind. 西蒙貌似蒙昧，其实头脑灵活。 an acute analysis of Middle Eastern politics 对中东政治的敏锐分析6. mathematics 数学 technical an acute angle is less than 90° 锐角的 → obtuse7. punctuation 标点符号 an acute accent (=a mark used to show pronunciation) is a small mark written above a vowel. In ‘café’, the letter ‘e’ has an acute accent. 发锐音的，标有尖音符号的 → grave, circumflex —acuteness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

acute• In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.• There are no studies on the effect of acute alcohol intake on gastric secretion in the chronic alcoholic patient.• Simmons' book is an acute analysis of Middle Eastern history.• She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.• I suffered a dislocation as acute as when I arrived in this country.• The more serious effects include acute confusional states, tachycardia, urinary retention, and aggravation of glaucoma.• Patients suffering from acute depression may well need medication.• It was seen as particularly acute in June for S4 pupils.• The impact of the problem has been especially acute in New England.• Boston employers are facing an acute labour shortage with potentially serious consequences for economic growth.• Patients with acute lower back pain often do well with bed rest and painkillers.• De Tocqueville was an acute observer of American ways.• Solving the problem will require acute perception and subtle communication.• There are acute shortages of food and medical equipment.• Nowhere is the problem more acute than Los Angeles County, where gang-related homicide is on the increase.• acute tuberculosis• The problem is less acute with phrases and sentences because there the speaker or writer is more fully on his own.acute pain• One of the most promising areas to find answers is in the treatment of acute pain.• They may suffer sickness, vomiting or acute pain, but they do not die.• She was aware of a feeling of acute pain; she was in panic; she was terrified that she might scream.• Chronic pain is continuous and unassociated with the physiological responses to acute pain such as sweating and tachycardia.• This was a drug that would ease the acute pain that crucifixion brought to the victim.acute sense of• Furthermore, he had an acute sense of deviation from the norm in any society.• There's an acute sense of having been betrayed or wronged.• As he did so, he felt a great sadness, an acute sense of loss, filling his entire being.• His acute sense of observation was remarkable, and his pictures show how sensitive he was to his surroundings.• He has an acute sense of priority.• The theory would have to be tested, of course, but the body has an acute sense of self-preservation, you know.• This changeless spell brought an acute sense of temporariness and the feeling of inevitability fading with the dusk.• I had an acute sense of the absence of Alison, of the probably permanent loss of her.Origin acute (1300-1400) Latin past participle of acuere “to sharpen”, from acus “needle”

a·cute adjectiveChineseSyllable  

is Corpus problem serious very acute an

acute
a‧cute /əˈkjuːt/ adjective1.  PROBLEM an acute problem is very serious:
    The housing shortage is more acute than first thought.
2.  FEELING an acute feeling is very strong:
    acute pain
    acute embarrassment
    acute anxiety
3.  ILLNESS technical an acute illness or disease quickly becomes very serious
   OPP  chronic:
    acute arthritis
4.  SENSES acute senses such as hearing, taste, touch etc are very good and sensitive:
    Young children have a particularly acute sense of smell.
5.  INTELLIGENT quick to notice and understand things
   SYN  sharp:
    Simon’s vague manner concealed an acute mind.
    an acute analysis of Middle Eastern politics
6.  MATHEMATICS technical an acute angle is less than 90° ⇨ obtuse
7.  PUNCTUATION an acute accent (=a mark used to show pronunciation) is a small mark written above a vowel. In ‘café’, the letter ‘e’ has an acute accent ⇨ grave, circumflex
—acuteness noun [uncountable]
     

THESAURUS

■ very bad
   ▪ serious very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes: Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital. | The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. | Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
   ▪ severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses: He suffered severe injuries in a car crash. | The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries. | severe epilepsy
   ▪ grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse: A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger. | The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
   ▪ acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly: She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis. | In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
   ▪ desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help: The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in. | The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
   ▪ critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly: In 1991, the food supply situation became critical. | Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
   ▪ life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die: Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness. | The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
   ▪ be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important: For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.

acuteBrE /əˈkjuːt/ 🔊NAmE /əˈkjuːt/ 🔊 adjectivevery serious or severe 十分严重的◆There is an acute shortage of water. 水严重短缺。🔊🔊◆acute pain剧痛◆the world's acute environmental problems全球十分严重的环境问题◆Competition for jobs is acute. 求职竞争非常激烈。🔊🔊an acute illness is one that has quickly become severe and dangerous （疾病）急性的◆acute appendicitis急性阑尾炎 OPP chronic

acute, condition, health, medicine, outbreak, pain, recover, relapse, terminal, treatment

(of the senses 感官) very sensitive and well developed 灵敏的 SYN keen ◆Dogs have an acute sense of smell. 狗的嗅觉灵敏。🔊🔊intelligent and quick to notice and understand things 敏锐的；有洞察力的◆He is an acute observer of the social scene. 他是个敏锐的社会现状观察者。🔊🔊◆Her judgement is acute. 她的判断敏锐。🔊🔊(geometry 几何) (of an angle 角) less than 90° 锐角的▸ acute·ness BrE /əˈkjuːtnəs/ 🔊NAmE /əˈkjuːtnəs/ 🔊 noun [uncountable]