acute in WordNet English dictionary

1. ending in a sharp point
   acuate  acute  sharp  needlelike 
   
2. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
   "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"; "acute patients"
   acute 
   
3. of an angle; less than 90 degrees
   acute 
   
4. of critical importance and consequence
   "an acute (or critical) lack of research funds"
   acute 
   
5. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
   "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
   acute  discriminating  incisive  keen  knifelike  penetrating  penetrative  piercing  sharp 
   
6. extremely sharp or intense
   "acute pain"; "felt acute annoyance"; "intense itching and burning"
   acute  intense 
   

1. a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
   acute accent  acute  ague