having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; "acute appendicitis"; "the acute phase of the illness"; "acute patients"
of critical importance and consequence; "an acute (or critical) lack of research funds"
extremely sharp or intense; "acute pain"; "felt acute annoyance"; "intense itching and burning"
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"