sharpen
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sharp·en
(shär′pən)tr. & intr.v. sharp·ened, sharp·en·ing, sharp·ens
To make or become sharp or sharper.
sharp′en·er n.
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.
sharpen
(ˈʃɑːpən)vb
1. to make or become sharp or sharper
2. (Music, other) music to raise the pitch of (a note), esp by one chromatic semitone. Usual US and Canadian word: sharp
ˈsharpener n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sharp•en
(ˈʃɑr pən)v.t., v.i.
to make or become sharp or sharper.
[1400–50]
sharp′en•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
sharpen
Past participle: sharpened
Gerund: sharpening
| Imperative |
|---|
| sharpen |
| sharpen |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | sharpen - make sharp or sharper; "sharpen the knives" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" strap - sharpen with a strap; "strap a razor" edge - provide with an edge; "edge a blade" strop - sharpen on a strop; "strop razors" whet - sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone hone - sharpen with a hone; "hone a knife" |
| 2. | sharpen - make crisp or more crisp and precise; "We had to sharpen our arguments" | |
| 3. | sharpen - become sharp or sharper; "The debate sharpened" | |
| 4. | sharpen - put (an image) into focus; "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie" adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels" refocus - put again into focus or focus more sharply; "refocus the image until it is very sharp" | |
| 5. | sharpen - make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper focus - cause to converge on or toward a central point; "Focus the light on this image" change intensity - increase or decrease in intensity soften - make (images or sounds) soft or softer | |
| 6. | sharpen - raise the pitch of (musical notes) music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner | |
| 7. | sharpen - give a point to; "The candles are tapered" acuminate - make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point | |
| 8. | sharpen - make (one's senses) more acute; "This drug will sharpen your vision" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
sharpen
verb
1. improve, enhance, better, upgrade, hone, brush up, touch up, ameliorate, polish up You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
sharpen
verbThe 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
يَشْحَذ، يَبْري
naostřitořezatostřit
slibespidse
hegyezkihegyez
skerpa, brÿna; ydda
naostriťzastrúhať
brusitišiliti
sivriltmek
sharpen
[ˈʃɑːpən]A. VT
1. (= make sharp) [+ tool, blade] → afilar; [+ pencil] → sacar punta a, afilar
to sharpen sth to a point → afilar algo hasta sacarle punta
to sharpen sth to a point → afilar algo hasta sacarle punta
2. (= intensify, increase) [+ reactions] → agudizar; [+ resolve] → aumentar; [+ contrast] → marcar; [+ appetite] → abrir; [+ skills] → mejorar
this will sharpen awareness of other people's needs → esto hará que se tome más conciencia de las necesidades de los demás
to sharpen one's wits → espabilarse
this will sharpen awareness of other people's needs → esto hará que se tome más conciencia de las necesidades de los demás
to sharpen one's wits → espabilarse
sharpen up
B. VI + ADV [person] → espabilarse
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
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
sharpen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
sharpen
[ˈʃɑːp/ən] vtb. (outline) → mettere in risalto, far spiccare; (contrast, difference) → sottolineare, evidenziare; (TV picture) → mettere a fuoco; (conflict) → intensificare; (desire, pain) → acuire; (appetite) → aguzzare, stuzzicare
to sharpen one's wits → aguzzare l'ingegno
to sharpen one's wits → aguzzare l'ingegno
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
sharp
(ʃaːp) adjective1. having a thin edge that can cut or a point that can pierce. a sharp knife.
2. (of pictures, outlines etc) clear and distinct. the sharp outline of the mountain.
3. (of changes in direction) sudden and quick. a sharp left turn.
4. (of pain etc) keen, acute or intense. He gets a sharp pain after eating.
5. (often with with) severe. Don't be so sharp with the child!; She got a sharp reproach from me.
6. alert. Dogs have sharp ears.
7. shrill and sudden. a sharp cry.
8. of a musical note, raised a semitone; too high in pitch. F sharp; That last note was sharp.
adverb1. punctually. Come at six (o'clock) sharp.
2. with an abrupt change of direction. Turn sharp left here.
3. at too high a pitch. You're singing sharp.
noun1. a sharp note. sharps and flats.
2. a sign (#) to show that a note is to be raised a semitone.
ˈsharpen verb to make or grow sharp. He sharpened his pencil.
ˈsharpener noun an instrument for sharpening. a pencil-sharpener.
ˈsharply adverb in a sharp manner. a sharply-pointed piece of glass; The road turned sharply to the left; He rebuked her sharply.
ˈsharpness nounsharp practice
dishonesty or cheating.
ˌsharp-ˈwitted adjective intelligent and alert. a sharp-witted boy.
look sharp to be quick or to hurry. Bring me the books and look sharp (about it)!
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.