Medicine. Also acute-care. Of a hospital or hospital ward, bed, etc.: reserved for patients with acute diseases. Also: suffering from an acute…

Medicine. Designating the final stage of a disease, esp. when terminating in death; occurring during this stage. Also (of a disease): that is in its…

Of a prison, institution, etc.: difficult to escape from. In later use esp.: (of an institution, or a particular area within one) having a high…