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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. [ R. ] Walker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle with every one of its angles less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern fine distinctions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety; sharp-wittedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. peracutus. See Per-, and Acute. ] Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [ R. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. It. peduccio console, corbel. ] A pedestal of small size, used to support small objects, as busts, vases, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖n. m. ‖n. f. } [ F., p. p. of protéger. See Protect. ] One under the care and protection of another, especially one receiving counseling and assistance in career development. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

‖n. [ F., orig. p.p. of réchauffer 8warm over. See Chafe, v. t. ] A dish of food that has been warmed again, hence, fig., something made up from old material; a rehash. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

It is merely a réchauffé of ancient philosophies. F. W. H. Myers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Moderalely acute. [ 1913 Webster ]