acuminate

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

First attested in 1611; borrowed from Latin acuminātus, perfect passive participle acuminō (to sharpen to a point), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Pronunciation

Adjective
    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈkjuːmɪnət/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
Verb

Adjective

acuminate (comparative more acuminate, superlative most acuminate)

  1. Tapering to a point; pointed.
    acuminate leaves, teeth, etc.
  2. (botany, mycology) Tapering to a long point in concave manner at its apex.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

acuminate (third-person singular simple present acuminates, present participle acuminating, simple past and past participle acuminated)

  1. (transitive) To render sharp or keen; to sharpen.
    • September 17, 1784, William Cowper, letter to the Rev. John Newton
      To acuminate even despair.
  2. (intransitive) To end in or come to a sharp point.

Derived terms

Italian

Adjective

acuminate f pl

  1. feminine plural of acuminato

Participle

acuminate f pl

  1. feminine plural of acuminato

Anagrams

Latin

Participle

acūmināte

  1. vocative masculine singular of acūminātus