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chron·ic 
Audio Help [kron-ik] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [kron-ik] Pronunciation Key –adjective
| 1. | constant; habitual; inveterate: a chronic liar. |
| 2. | continuing a long time or recurring frequently: a chronic state of civil war. |
| 3. | having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like: a chronic invalid. |
| 4. | (of a disease) having long duration (opposed to acute). |
Also, chron·i·cal.
—Related forms
chron·i·cal·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. confirmed, hardened.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
chronic
To learn more about chronic visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| chron·ic
Audio Help (krŏn'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.
[French chronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek khronikos, of time, from khronos, time.] chron'i·cal·ly adv., chro·nic'i·ty (krŏ-nĭs'ĭ-tē) n. Synonyms: These adjectives mean having long had a habit or a disease: a chronic complainer; a confirmed alcoholic; a habitual cheat; an inveterate smoker. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
chronic
1601 (earlier form was chronical, 1530), from O.Fr. chronique, from L. chronicus, from Gk. khronikos "of time," from khronos "time." Vague disapproving sense is from association with diseases (a connection found since 1601).
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| chronic | |
adjective | |
| 1. | being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering; "chronic indigestion"; "a chronic shortage of funds"; "a chronic invalid" [ant: acute] |
| 2. | of long duration; "chronic money problems" |
| 3. | habitual; "a chronic smoker" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
chronic [ˈkronik] adjective
(especially of a disease) lasting a long time
Example: a chronic illness
Example: a chronic illness
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
| chronic
Audio Help (krŏn'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases. Compare acute. |
| The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
chronic
A*cute"\, a. [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.]1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf. 2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning. 3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure. 4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent. 5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle. Syn: Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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