Dictionary

acerb en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈsɜɹb/ (General-American)
• /əˈsɜːb/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit.
   • 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. 1732, Edward Strother, Prælectiones Pharmaco-mathicæ & medico-practicæ:
2. (archaic, figuratively) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.
   • As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […] 1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report, volume 1, page 1970:

Forms

Deriveds

acerbly

Relateds

acerbity · acerbically · acerbate · exacerbate

Synonyms

acerbic · acerbic

Translations (20)

ru жёсткий (sharp and harsh in expression) · fi kitkerä (sharp and harsh in expression) · fa گس (bitter to the taste) · pl kwaśny (bitter to the taste) · ru резкий (sharp and harsh in expression) · pl zgryźliwy (sharp and harsh in expression) · fi kitkerä (bitter to the taste) · ru терпкий (bitter to the taste) · pl uszczypliwy (sharp and harsh in expression) · pt acerbo (bitter to the taste) · pl cierpki (bitter to the taste) · pl gorzki (bitter to the taste) · it acerbo (bitter to the taste) · fr acerbe (bitter to the taste) · fi pureva (sharp and harsh in expression) · ru едкий (sharp and harsh in expression) · la acerbus (bitter to the taste) · pl cierpki (sharp and harsh in expression) · gl acerbo (bitter to the taste) · es acerbo (bitter to the taste)