"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 [Southern-England] Forms: acerber [comparative], more acerb [comparative], acerbest [superlative], most acerb [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)b Etymology: 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, {{m|en|acrid}} acrid 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), 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)
    Sense id: en-acerb-en-adj-QkDqJXHf Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 8 92 Disambiguation of 'sharp and harsh in expression': 32 68
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: acerbly Related terms: acerbate, acerbically, acerbity, exacerbate

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for acerb meaning in English (4.1kB)

{
  "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"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "acrid"
      },
      "expansion": "acrid",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "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": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "bitter to the taste",
          "word": "acerbo"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "8 92",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "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": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "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": "32 68",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "pureva"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "32 68",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "sharp and harsh in expression",
          "word": "kitkerä"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜːb/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜɹb/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)b"
    },
    {
      "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",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern England)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "acerb"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 2-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)b",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)b/2 syllables"
  ],
  "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"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "acrid"
      },
      "expansion": "acrid",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "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": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "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"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/əˈsɜɹb/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)b"
    },
    {
      "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",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern England)"
    }
  ],
  "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": "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"
    }
  ],
  "word": "acerb"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-20 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (1d5a7d1 and 304864d). 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.

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