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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]
WordNet (r) 2.0
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