A*cu"men (&?;), n. [L. acumen, fr. acuere to sharpen. Cf. Acute.] Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden.
Syn. -- Sharpness; sagacity; keenness; shrewdness; acuteness.
A*cu"mi*nate (&?;), a. [L. acuminatus, p. p. of acuminare to sharpen, fr. acumen. See Acumen.] Tapering to a point; pointed; as, acuminate leaves, teeth, etc.
A*cu"mi*nate (&?;), v. t. To render sharp or keen. [R.] "To acuminate even despair." Cowper.
A*cu"mi*nate, v. i. To end in, or come to, a sharp point. "Acuminating in a cone of prelacy." Milton.
A*cu`mi*na"tion (&?;), n. A sharpening; termination in a sharp point; a tapering point. Bp. Pearson.
A*cu"mi*nose` (&?;), a. Terminating in a flat, narrow end. Lindley.
A*cu"mi*nous (&?;), a. Characterized by acumen; keen. Highmore.
Ac`u*pres"sure (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + premere, pressum, to press.] (Surg.) A mode of arresting hemorrhage resulting from wounds or surgical operations, by passing under the divided vessel a needle, the ends of which are left exposed externally on the cutaneous surface. Simpson.
Ac`u*punc`tu*ra"tion (&?;), n. See Acupuncture.
Ac`u*punc"ture (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + punctura a pricking, fr. pungere to prick: cf. F. acuponcture.] Pricking with a needle; a needle prick. Specifically (Med.): The insertion of needles into the living tissues for remedial purposes.
Ac`u*punc"ture (&?;), v. t. To treat with acupuncture.