What part of speech is the word acute?

The word "acute" can be several parts of speech depending on how it is used:

* Adjective: Describing something sharp, intense, or severe. Example: "She felt an acute pain in her leg."

* Noun: Referring to a sharp, intense, or severe stage or phase of something. Example: "The disease reached its acute stage quickly."

Therefore, "acute" is both an adjective and a noun.