"acerb" meaning in English

See acerb in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /əˈsɜːb/ [Received-Pronunciation], /əˈsɜɹb/ [General-American] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-acerb.wav Forms: acerber [comparative], more acerb [comparative], acerbest [superlative], most acerb [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)b Etymology: From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid. Etymology templates: {{der|en|la|acerbus}} Latin acerbus, {{der|en|la|ācer||sharp}} Latin ācer (“sharp”), {{cog|fr|acerbe}} French acerbe Head templates: {{en-adj|er|more}} acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)
  1. (archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit. Tags: archaic Synonyms: acerbic Translations (bitter to the taste): kitkerä (Finnish), acerbe (French), acerbo (Galician), acerbo (Italian), acerbus (Latin), گس (gas) (Persian), acerbo (Portuguese), терпкий (terpkij) (Russian), acerbo (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-acerb-en-adj-7CtZ~y2v Disambiguation of 'bitter to the taste': 91 9
  2. (archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself. Tags: archaic, figuratively Synonyms: acerbic Translations (sharp and harsh in expression): pureva (Finnish), kitkerä (Finnish), едкий (jedkij) (Russian), резкий (rezkij) (Russian), жёсткий (žóstkij) (Russian)
    Sense id: en-acerb-en-adj-QkDqJXHf Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 2 entries, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Galician translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Latin translations, Terms with Persian translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 7 93 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 9 91 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 7 93 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 4 96 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 19 81 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 13 87 Disambiguation of Terms with Galician translations: 19 81 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 12 88 Disambiguation of Terms with Latin translations: 12 88 Disambiguation of Terms with Persian translations: 19 81 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 21 79 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 12 88 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 10 90 Disambiguation of 'sharp and harsh in expression': 34 66
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: acerbly Related terms: acerbate, acerbically, acerbity, exacerbate

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "acerbly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "acerbus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin acerbus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "ācer",
        "4": "",
        "5": "sharp"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin ācer (“sharp”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fr",
        "2": "acerbe"
      },
      "expansion": "French acerbe",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "acerber",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more acerb",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "acerbest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most acerb",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "acerbate"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "acerbically"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "acerbity"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "exacerbate"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1732, Edward Strother, Prælectiones Pharmaco-mathicæ & medico-practicæ:",
          "text": "If you put Spirit of Sulphur to the Peruvian Bark, it then becomes very acerb. If you mix Mercury with Spirit of Nitre or Oil of Vitriol whilst it boils, it then is very acerb.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit."
      ],
      "id": "en-acerb-en-adj-7CtZ~y2v",
      "links": [
        [
          "unripe",
          "unripe"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "acerbic"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "kitkerä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbe"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbus"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "gas",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "گس"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "terpkij",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "терпкий"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbo"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 93",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 91",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 93",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 2 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 96",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "19 81",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 87",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "19 81",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Galician translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 88",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 88",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Latin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "19 81",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Persian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 79",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 88",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 90",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report, volume 1, page 1970:",
          "text": "As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself."
      ],
      "id": "en-acerb-en-adj-QkDqJXHf",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "acerbic"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic",
        "figuratively"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "34 66",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "pureva"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "34 66",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "kitkerä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "34 66",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "jedkij",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "едкий"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "34 66",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "rezkij",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "резкий"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "34 66",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "žóstkij",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "жёсткий"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜːb/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-acerb.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/ed/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/ed/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜɹb/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)b"
    }
  ],
  "word": "acerb"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)b",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)b/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Galician translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Latin translations",
    "Terms with Persian translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "acerbly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "acerbus"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin acerbus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "ācer",
        "4": "",
        "5": "sharp"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin ācer (“sharp”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fr",
        "2": "acerbe"
      },
      "expansion": "French acerbe",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "acerber",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "more acerb",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "acerbest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most acerb",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er",
        "2": "more"
      },
      "expansion": "acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "acerbate"
    },
    {
      "word": "acerbically"
    },
    {
      "word": "acerbity"
    },
    {
      "word": "exacerbate"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with archaic senses",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1732, Edward Strother, Prælectiones Pharmaco-mathicæ & medico-practicæ:",
          "text": "If you put Spirit of Sulphur to the Peruvian Bark, it then becomes very acerb. If you mix Mercury with Spirit of Nitre or Oil of Vitriol whilst it boils, it then is very acerb.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "unripe",
          "unripe"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "acerbic"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with archaic senses",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report, volume 1, page 1970:",
          "text": "As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic, figurative) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "acerbic"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic",
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜːb/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-acerb.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/ed/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/e/ed/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-acerb.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜɹb/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)b"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "kitkerä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbe"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbo"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbo"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbus"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "gas",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "گس"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "terpkij",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "терпкий"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "bitter to the taste",
      "word": "acerbo"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
      "word": "pureva"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
      "word": "kitkerä"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "jedkij",
      "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
      "word": "едкий"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "rezkij",
      "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
      "word": "резкий"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "žóstkij",
      "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
      "word": "жёсткий"
    }
  ],
  "word": "acerb"
}

Download raw JSONL data for acerb meaning in English (4.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (d8cb2f3 and 4e554ae). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.