acumen
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ac·u·men
(ăk′yə-mən, ə-kyo͞o′mən)n.
Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight: "A brilliant acumen in agricultural matters ... had made the old man a legend in the district" (James Herriot).
[Latin acūmen, from acuere, to sharpen, from acus, needle; see ak- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: The pronunciation (ăk′yə-mən), with stress on the first syllable, has long been accepted as a standard pronunciation. It is an Anglicization of an older, traditional pronunciation (ə-kyo͞o′mən) that reflects the word's Latin origin. In our 2016 survey, only 34 percent of the Usage Panel found the older pronunciation acceptable (down from 60 percent in 1997), and only 14 percent preferred it, suggesting that this pronunciation is falling out of use.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
acumen
(ˈækjʊˌmɛn; əˈkjuːmən)n
the ability to judge well; keen discernment; insight
[C16: from Latin: sharpness, from acuere to sharpen, from acus needle]
aˈcuminous adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•cu•men
(əˈkyu mən, ˈæk yə-)n.
keen insight; shrewdness: business acumen.
[1525–35; < Latin acūmen sharpness =acū-, s. of acuere to sharpen (see acute) + -men n. suffix]
a•cu′mi•nous, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | acumen - a tapering point plant process, enation - a natural projection or outgrowth from a plant body or organ |
2. | acumen - shrewdness shown by keen insight astuteness, perspicaciousness, perspicacity, shrewdness - intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
acumen
noun judgment, intelligence, perception, wisdom, insight, wit, ingenuity, sharpness, cleverness, keenness, shrewdness, discernment, perspicacity, sagacity, smartness, smarts (slang, chiefly U.S.), astuteness, acuteness, perspicuity His sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
acumen
nounSkill in perceiving, discriminating, or judging:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
acumen
[əˈkjuːmən ˈækjʊmən] n → perspicacité fbusiness acumen → sens m des affaires
political acumen → sens m de la politique
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
acumen
n → Scharfsinn m; to show (considerable) acumen → (großen) Scharfsinn beweisen; business acumen → Geschäftssinn m; political acumen → politische Klugheit
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995