| Sharp (shärp), Phillip Allen Born 1944. American biochemist who shared a 1993 Nobel prize for discovering that some genes contain sequences, known as introns, that do not function as codes for the formation of a protein. |
| sharp (shärp) adj. sharp·er, sharp·est 1. Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing. 2. a. Having clear form and detail: a sharp photographic image. b. Terminating in an edge or a point: sharp angular cliffs; a sharp nose. c. Clearly and distinctly set forth: sharp contrasts in behavior. 3. Abrupt or acute: a sharp drop; a sharp turn. 4. a. Intellectually penetrating; astute. b. Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception: sharp hearing. 5. Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings: sharp selling practices. 6. Vigilant; alert: kept a sharp lookout for shoplifters. 7. a. Briskly or keenly cold and cutting: a sharp wind. b. Harsh or biting in tone or character: sharp criticism. 8. Fierce or impetuous; violent: a sharp temper; a sharp assault. 9. Intense; severe: a sharp pain. 10. a. Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle. b. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning. 11. Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste: a sharp pungent odor; a sharp cheese. 12. Composed of hard angular particles: sharp sand. 13. Music a. Raised in pitch by a semitone. b. Being above the proper pitch. c. Having the key signature in sharps. 14. Informal Attractive or stylish: a sharp jacket. See Synonyms at fashionable. adv. 1. In a sharp manner: hit me sharp on the brow. 2. Punctually; exactly: at three o'clock sharp. 3. Music Above the true or proper pitch. n. 1. Music a. A sign (  ) used to indicate that a note is to be raised by a half step.b. A note that is raised a half step. 2. A slender sewing needle with a very fine point. 3. Informal a. An expert. b. A shrewd cheater; a sharper. v. sharped, sharp·ing, sharps Music v.tr. To raise in pitch by a semitone. v.intr. To play or sing above the proper pitch. [Middle English scharp, from Old English scearp; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.] sharp  ly adv.sharp ness n.Synonyms: sharp, keen1, acute These adjectives all apply literally to fine edges, points, or tips. Figuratively they indicate mental alertness and clarity of comprehension. Sharp suggests quickness and astuteness: "a young man of sharp and active intellect" (John Henry Newman). Keen implies clear-headedness and acuity: a journalist with a keen mind and quick wits. Acute suggests penetrating perception or discernment: an acute observer of national politics. |
Sharpness
an abnormal fear of pointed objects.
an abnormal fear of pins and needles.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  sharpness - a quick and penetrating intelligence; "he argued with great acuteness"; "I admired the keenness of his mind"intelligence - the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience steel trap - an acute intelligence (an analogy based on the well-known sharpness of steel traps); "he's as sharp as a steel trap"; "a mind like a steel trap" |
| 2. | sharpness - the attribute of urgency in tone of voice; "his voice had an edge to it" urgency - pressing importance requiring speedy action; "the urgency of his need" | |
| 3. | sharpness - a strong odor or taste property; "the pungency of mustard"; "the sulfurous bite of garlic"; "the sharpness of strange spices"; "the raciness of the wine" | |
| 4. | sharpness - the quality of being keenly and painfully felt; "the sharpness of her loss" distressingness, painfulness - the quality of being painful; "she feared the painfulness of childbirth" | |
| 5. | sharpness - thinness of edge or fineness of point acuteness - the quality of having a sharp edge or point shape, configuration, conformation, contour, form - any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes" | |
| 6. | sharpness - the quality of being sharp and clear uncloudedness, clarity, clearness - the quality of clear water; "when she awoke the clarity was back in her eyes" definition - clarity of outline; "exercise had given his muscles superior definition" discernability, legibility - distinctness that makes perception easy focus - maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; "in focus"; "out of focus" blurriness, fuzziness, indistinctness, fogginess, softness - the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines | |
| 7. | sharpness - harshness of manner ill nature - a disagreeable, irritable, or malevolent disposition |
Translations
sharpness [ˈʃɑːpnɪs] N
2. (= abruptness) [of bend] → lo cerrado; [of turn] → brusquedad f
3. (= clarity) [of outline, image] → nitidez f, definición f; [of contrast] → lo marcado
4. (= keenness) [of mind] → perspicacia f, agudeza f; [of reflexes] → rapidez f
his eyes hadn't lost any of their sharpness → sus ojos no habían perdido nada de su agudeza
his eyes hadn't lost any of their sharpness → sus ojos no habían perdido nada de su agudeza
5. (= severity) [of pain] → agudeza f, intensidad f; [of remark, tone] → aspereza f; [of tongue] → mordacidad f
there was a note of sharpness in his voice → se notaba cierta aspereza en su tono
there is a sharpness in the air → empieza a notarse el frío
there was a note of sharpness in his voice → se notaba cierta aspereza en su tono
there is a sharpness in the air → empieza a notarse el frío
6. [of taste] → acidez f
sharpness [ˈʃɑːrpnɪs] n
[knife, razor, scissors] → tranchant m
(= quick-wittedness) [person, mind] → vivacité f
(= harshness) [tone, rebuke] → brusquerie f
(= clarity) [picture, image] → netteté f
sharpness
n
(of knife, blade etc) → Schärfe f; (of needle, point etc) → Spitzheit f
(of outline, photo, contrast) → Schärfe f
(= keenness, of eyes, wits, mind) → Schärfe f; (of nose) → Empfindlichkeit f; (of observation, remark) → Scharfsinnigkeit f; (= intelligence, of person) → Schläue f, → Gewieftheit f (inf); (of child) → Aufgewecktheit f
(= suddenness, intensity, of whistle, cry) → Schrillheit f; (of frost, contrast) → Schärfe f; (of desire, pain) → Heftigkeit f; (of hunger) → Größe f; because of the unexpected sharpness of the drop in prices → wegen des unerwartet steilen Preissturzes
(= fierceness) (of tongue, retort, tone of voice) → Schärfe f; (of person) → Schroffheit f; (of temper) → Hitzigkeit f
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