From ass (“sharp”) +‎ -ums.

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asums m (1st declension)

1. sharpness (the quality of that which is sharp, or pointed)

   cirvja asums ― the sharpness of an ax

   akmens šķautnes asums ― the sharpness of the stone edge

   durkļa asums ― the sharpness of a bayonet

   lūk, tur jau mirdzēja apaļā zāģa asmens; viņš pārbaudīja ar pirkstu zobu asumu ― see, there the circular saw blade was shining; he checked with (his) finger the (saw) tooth sharpness

2. sharpness (the quality of features that are sharp, angular, not rounded)

   vaibstu asums ― the sharpness of (facial) features

3. sharpness (the quality of plants which have little thorns, or a sharp edge)

   nātres asums ― the sharpness of nettles

4. coarseness, roughness (the quality of skin, fabric, etc. which is coarse, rough)

   ādas asums ― the roughness, coarseness of the skin

5. sharpness, spiciness, pungency

   smaržas asums ― the pungency of the smell

   vēja asums ― the sharpness of the wind

   sāpju asums ― the sharpness of the pain

6. sharpness (the quality of voices, words, texts, etc. which are sharp, biting, unsparing, fierce)

   balss asums ― the sharpness of the voice

   satīras asums ― the sharpness of the satire

7. sharpness (the quality of lines, drawings, features, etc. which are sharp, well-defined, clearly marked)

   zīmējuma kontūru asums ― the sharpness of the drawing contour

   fotoattēla asums ― photo sharpness

8. (of problems, questions) sharpness, clarity, importance

   Daugavmalā cīņa iedegās ar pieaugošu asumu ― the fight on the banks of the Daugava (river) came on with increasing sharpness

9. (of senses, thoughts) sharpness, acuity

   dzirdes, redzes asums ― sharpness of hearing, of vision

   prāta ' asums ― sharpness of mind

10. (usually in the plural) pointed, sharp spines, growths, protuberances

    usnei ir tādi asumi, kas duras rokā ― thistle has such sharp spines that it (can) pierce the hand

11. (figuratively) sharp words, phrases

    runāt bez asumiem ― to speak without sharp words

    izvairīties no liekiem asumiem ― to avoid unnecessary roughness

• (of "sharp, pointed"): skaudrums
• (of "coarse, rough"): negludums, raupjums, rupjums, rupjība, skarbums

• (antonym(s) of “of "sharp, pointed"”): trulums
• (antonym(s) of “of "coarse, rough"”): gludums, maigums, mīkstums