definition of
[acute]

[1] #1 acute a. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"; "acute patients". wn

[2] #2 acute s. [intense] extremely sharp or intense; "acute pain"; "felt acute annoyance"; "intense itching and burning". wn

[3] #3 acute n. [acute accent, ague] a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation. wn

[4] #4 acute s. of critical importance and consequence; "an acute (or critical) lack of research funds". wn