B2 adjective Neutral

acute

/əˈkjuːt/

Describes a problem or situation that is very serious, severe, or intense, often occurring suddenly. It can also refer to senses or mental abilities that are highly developed, sharp, and sensitive to detail.

Ejemplos

3 de 5
1

She felt an acute pain in her chest and decided to see a doctor immediately.

She felt an acute pain in her chest and decided to see a doctor immediately.

2

The humanitarian organization warned of an acute shortage of food and medicine in the conflict zone.

The humanitarian organization warned of an acute shortage of food and medicine in the conflict zone.

3

He's got an acute sense of what's cool, so I always ask him for fashion advice.

He's got an acute sense of what's cool, so I always ask him for fashion advice.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
acuteness
Adverbio
acutely
Adjetivo
acute
Relacionado
acuity
💡

Truco para recordar

Think of an 'acute angle' in math—it is sharp and small. Similarly, an 'acute' problem is a 'sharp' (severe) one.

Quiz rápido

The hospital is struggling to cope with the ___ shortage of nursing staff.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: acute

Ejemplos

1

She felt an acute pain in her chest and decided to see a doctor immediately.

everyday

She felt an acute pain in her chest and decided to see a doctor immediately.

2

The humanitarian organization warned of an acute shortage of food and medicine in the conflict zone.

formal

The humanitarian organization warned of an acute shortage of food and medicine in the conflict zone.

3

He's got an acute sense of what's cool, so I always ask him for fashion advice.

informal

He's got an acute sense of what's cool, so I always ask him for fashion advice.

4

The study highlights an acute correlation between sleep deprivation and cognitive decline.

academic

The study highlights an acute correlation between sleep deprivation and cognitive decline.

5

Our firm is currently facing acute competition from emerging tech startups in the region.

business

Our firm is currently facing acute competition from emerging tech startups in the region.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
acuteness
Adverbio
acutely
Adjetivo
acute
Relacionado
acuity

Colocaciones comunes

acute pain acute pain
acute shortage acute shortage
acute awareness acute awareness
acute angle acute angle
acute crisis acute crisis

Frases Comunes

acute respiratory distress

acute respiratory distress

an acute observer

an acute observer

acute phase

acute phase

Se confunde a menudo con

acute vs chronic

Acute means sudden and severe, while chronic means long-lasting or recurring over a long period.

📝

Notas de uso

In medical contexts, use 'acute' for conditions that appear suddenly. In general contexts, use it to emphasize the severity of a problem or the sharpness of a sense like hearing or sight.

⚠️

Errores comunes

Learners sometimes use 'acute' to mean 'cute' because of the spelling, but they are unrelated. Also, avoid using 'acute' for long-term problems; use 'chronic' instead.

💡

Truco para recordar

Think of an 'acute angle' in math—it is sharp and small. Similarly, an 'acute' problem is a 'sharp' (severe) one.

📖

Origen de la palabra

From the Latin word 'acutus', which is the past participle of 'acuere', meaning 'to sharpen'.

Patrones gramaticales

Used primarily as an attributive adjective (before a noun). Can follow linking verbs (e.g., 'The problem became acute').
🌍

Contexto cultural

Frequently used in global news headlines to describe 'acute' shortages of resources like water, energy, or housing.

Quiz rápido

The hospital is struggling to cope with the ___ shortage of nursing staff.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: acute

Palabras relacionadas

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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