acerb

acerb

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈsɜːb/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /əˈsɜɹb/

Adjective

acerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)

1. Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.
2. Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

Synonyms

• acerbic

Related terms

• acerbate
• acerbically
• acerbity
• exacerbate

Translations

bitter to the taste

Finnish: kitkerä (fi) French: acerbe (fr) Italian: acerbo (it)

Latin: acerbus (la) Portuguese: acerbo (pt) Spanish: acerbo (es)

sharp and harsh in expression

Finnish: pureva (fi), kitkerä (fi)

References

• acerb in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Brace, brace, caber, cabre, cabré