sharpen

Speech parts

1. sharpen - Adjective

2. sharpen - Verb

Meaning

To make sharp.

To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper; as, to sharpen an ax, or the teeth of a saw.

To render more quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious.

To make more eager; as, to sharpen men's desires.

To make more pungent and intense; as, to sharpen a pain or disease.

To make biting, sarcastic, or severe.

To render more shrill or piercing.

To make more tart or acid; to make sour; as, the rays of the sun sharpen vinegar.

To raise, as a sound, by means of a sharp; to apply a sharp to.

To grow or become sharp.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

point focus taper heighten hone whet focalize focalise polish basil grindstone quicken increase practice better
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Antonyms

dull blunt blur soften flatten nebula
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Hypernyms

set change correct compound alter modify

Hyponyms

focus edge strap hone whet refocus

Phrases with the word

sharpen up sharpen a distinction

Derivatives

sarpened sharpening

Examples

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. Confucius

About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead. Edsger W. Dijkstra

The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue. Oscar Levant

When a blade has dulled, sharpen another. Corsican Proverb

Even the devil himself does not know where women sharpen their knives. Latvian Proverb

One does not sharpen the axes after the right time; after the time they are needed. Russian Proverb

Close letter words and terms

Sharpe measure Sharpe ratio sharped sharpen a distinction sharpen laces sharpen up