Acerb

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Acerb \A*cerb"\, a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe.
     See {Acrid}.]
     Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp
     and harsh.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  acerb
       adj 1: sour or bitter in taste [syn: {acerbic}, {astringent}, {sharp}]
       2: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing
          otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments";
          "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words";
          "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political
          assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a
          sulfurous denunciation" [syn: {acerbic}, {acid}, {acrid},
          {bitter}, {blistering}, {caustic}, {sulfurous}, {sulphurous},
           {venomous}, {virulent}, {vitriolic}]