acute, sharp, shrill

acute English Adjective Urgent. Sensitive. Short, quick. (geometry) Of an angle, less than 90 degrees. (geometry) Of a triangle, having all three interior angles measuring less than 90 degrees. (botany|of leaves) With the sides meeting directly to form a pointed acute angle at the apex, base, or both. (medicine) Of an abnormal condition of recent or sudden onset, in contrast to delayed onset; this sense does not imply severity (unlike the common usage). (medicine) Of a short-lived condition, in contrast to a chronic condition; this sense also does not imply severity. *{{quote-magazine|year=2013|month=May-June|author=[http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/katie-l-burke Katie L. Burke] |title=[http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/2013/3/in-the-news-45 In the News] |volume=101|issue=3|page=193|magazine=(American Scientist) |passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acuterespiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}} (orthography|after a letter) Having an acute accent. High or shrill. an acute tone or accent Synonyms * (urgent) pressing, urgent, emergent, sudden * (sensitive) intense, powerful, strong, sharp, keen * (quick) fast, rapid * (triangle) acute-angled * (leaf shape) obtuse Antonyms * (sensitive) dull, witless, obtuse, slow * (angle) obtuse * (quick) slow, leisurely * (triangle) obtuse, obtuse-angled * chronic Derived terms * acutance * acuity * acute-angled * acute accent * acuteness Related terms * Noun (en-noun) (orthography) An acute accent. The word “cafe” often has an acute over the ‘e’. Verb (en-verb) (phonetics) To give an acute sound to. He acutes his rising inflection too much . Anagrams * ----

shrill English Adjective (en-adj) High-pitched and piercing. She spoke in ashrill voice. * Shakespeare Hear the shrillwhistle which doth order give / To sounds confused. * Byron Let winds beshrill , let waves roll high. Sharp or keen to the senses. Verb (en-verb) To make a shrill noise. * Spenser Break we our pipes, thatshrill'd loud as lark. * Goldsmith No sounds were heard but of theshrilling cock. * L. Wallace His voice shrilledwith passion. Noun (en-noun) A shrill sound. (Spense