Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

acuminate

/əˈkjuːmɪnət/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.92 in modern English

Syllables: acumi-nate
IPA: /əˈkjuːmɪnət/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Tapering to a point; pointed.

adj

Tapering to a long point in concave manner at its apex.

verb

To render sharp or keen; to sharpen.

Transitive verb

verb

To end in or come to a sharp point.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"acuminate leaves, teeth, etc."
"September 17, 1784, William Cowper, letter to the Rev. John Newton To acuminate even despair."

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).

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1611

Word Breakdown

Root: *h₂eḱ-

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /əˈkjuːmɪnət/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more acuminate (comparative) most acuminate (superlative) accuminate (alternative) acuminates (present, singular) acuminating (participle, present) acuminated (participle, past) acuminated (past)

Derived Forms

acuminately biacuminate nonacuminate subacuminate acumination

Phrases

long-acuminate

Questions

How do you pronounce acuminate?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈkjuːmɪnət/.
What does acuminate mean?: Tapering to a point; pointed.
Where does acuminate come from?: First known use: First attested in 1611.

How to pronounce acuminate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “acuminate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈkjuːmɪnət/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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