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b : having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short duration <~ inflammation>

5 : high in pitch

6 : of, marked by, or being an accent mark having the form ´

— acute·ly adverb

— noun

Synonyms

[3] delicate, keen, perceptive, sensitive, sharp; also accurate, clear, discerning, fine, good, precise, piercing, quick, receptive, sensible, subtle

[4a] agonizing, biting, excruciating, severe, sharp

[4b] critical, dire, imperative, imperious, instant, pressing, urgent; also compelling, demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding

Antonyms

noncritical

[5] sharp, shrill, squeaky, treble—more at SHRILL

acute·ness noun : the quality or state of being acute

Synonyms

acidity, acrimony, asperity, bite, bitterness, edge, harshness, keenness, pungency, sharpness, tartness

acy·clo·vir noun : a drug used esp. to treat the genital form of herpes simplex

ad noun : a public notice : ADVERTISEMENT

AD abbreviation 1 after date

2 [ORIGIN L anno Domini] in the year of our Lord — often printed in small capitals and often punctuated

3 assistant director

4 athletic director

ad·age noun : an old familiar saying : PROVERB, MAXIM

Synonyms

aphorism, byword, epigram, maxim, proverb, saying—more at SAYING

1adagio adverb or adjective [ORIGIN: It]

: at a slow tempo — used as a direction in music

2adagio noun, plural -gios 1 : an adagio movement

2 : a ballet duet or trio displaying feats of lifting and balancing

1adamant noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF, fr. L adamant-, adamas hardest metal, diamond, fr. Gk]

: a stone believed to be impenetrably hard

2adamant adjective : unshakable or insistent esp. in maintaining a position or opinion : INFLEXIBLE, UNYIELDING

— ad·a·mant·ly adverb

Synonyms

hard, immovable, implacable, inflexible, pat, rigid, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding

ad·a·man·tine adjective : rigidly firm : UNYIELDING

Ad·am's apple noun : the projection in front of the neck formed by the largest cartilage of the larynx

adapt verb : to make suitable or fit (as for a new use or for different conditions)

— ad·ap·ta·tion noun

— ad·ap·ta·tion·al adjective

— adap·tive adjective

— ad·ap·tiv·i·ty noun

Synonyms

acclimate, accommodate, adjust, condition, conform, fit, shape; also readjust

adapt·able adjective : capable of being or becoming adapted

— adapt·abil·i·ty noun

Synonyms

all-around, protean, universal, versatile—more at VERSATILE

adjustable, changeable, elastic, flexible, fluid, malleable, variable—more at FLEXIBLE

adapt·er also adap·tor noun 1 : one that adapts

2 : a device for connecting two dissimilar parts of an apparatus

3 : an attachment for adapting apparatus for uses not orig. intended

ADC abbreviation 1 aide-de-camp

2 Aid to Dependent Children

add verb 1 : to join to something else so as to increase in number or amount

2 : to say further

3 : to combine (numbers) into one sum

4 : to serve as or make an addition

Synonyms

[1] adjoin, annex, append, tack; also affix, attach, fasten, fix, graft, hitch, tie

Antonyms

deduct, remove, subtract, take

[3] foot, sum, total; also calculate, cast, cipher, compute, figure, reckon, tally

usually add to [4] aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, increase, multiply, raise, swell, up—more at INCREASE

ADD abbreviation attention deficit disorder

ad·dend noun : a number to be added to another

ad·den·dum noun, plural -da [ORIGIN: L]

: something added; especially : a supplement to a book

1adder noun [ORIGIN: ME, alter. (by false division of a naddre) of naddre, fr. OE næddre]

1 : a poisonous European viper or a related snake

2 : any of various harmless No. American snakes (as the hognose snake)

2adder noun : one that adds; especially : a device that performs addition

1addict verb 1 : to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or excessively

2 : to cause addiction to a substance in (as a person)