sharpen

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

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" blunt, dull - make dull or blunt; "Too much cutting dulls the knife's edge"
	2.	sharpen - make crisp or more crisp and precise; "We had to sharpen our arguments" compound, deepen, intensify, heighten - make more intense, stronger, or more marked; "The efforts were intensified", "Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her"; "Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness"; "This event only deepened my convictions"
	3.	sharpen - become sharp or sharper; "The debate sharpened" deepen, intensify - become more intense; "The debate intensified"; "His dislike for raw fish only deepened in Japan"
	4.	sharpen - put (an image) into focus; "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie" focalise, focalize, focus 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 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" flatten, drop - lower the pitch of (musical notes)
	7.	sharpen - give a point to; "The candles are tapered" taper, point change form, change shape, deform - assume a different shape or form 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" heighten compound, deepen, intensify, heighten - make more intense, stronger, or more marked; "The efforts were intensified", "Her rudeness intensified his dislike for her"; "Pot smokers claim it heightens their awareness"; "This event only deepened my convictions" subtilise, subtilize - make (senses) more keen

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.

2. make sharp, hone, whet, grind, edge, file, strop, put an edge on He started to sharpen his knife.

3. fuel, fire, stir, arouse, excite, animate, rouse, quicken, inflame, enliven, inspirit The case has sharpened the debate over capital punishment.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

sharpen

verb

To give a sharp edge to:

acuminate, edge, hone, whet.

The 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

schärfenspitzen

ακονίζωοξύνω

afilaragudizarse

affileraiguiser

hegyezkihegyez

skerpa, brÿna; ydda

affilareaguzzarefare la puntaacuireacuminare

kvesse

ostrzyć

заточитьнаправитьнаправлятьточитьчинить

naostriťzastrúhať

brusitišiliti

sivriltmek

削尖

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

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

3. (= make clearer) [+ image] → definir, hacer más nítido

B. VI [voice] → volverse más agudo; [desire] → avivarse; [pain] → agudizarse

sharpen up

A. VT + ADV [+ person] → espabilar
to sharpen up one's act → enmendarse

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

sharpen

[ˈʃɑː^rpən] vt

[+ blade, knife, scissors] → aiguiser; [+ pencil] → tailler

[+ feeling] → aviver; [+ appetite] → aiguiser

[+ skills, understanding] → affiner

[+ disagreement] → aviver; [+ difference] → accentuer

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

sharpen

vt

knife → schleifen, schärfen, wetzen; razor → wetzen; pencil → spitzen; (fig) appetite → anregen; wits → schärfen; sensation → erhöhen; to sharpen one’s claws (lit, fig) → seine Krallen wetzen

(Mus, by a semitone) → (um einen Halbton) erhöhen; (= raise pitch) → höher singen/spielen/stimmen

vi her voice sharpened (in fear, anxiety etc) → ihre Stimme wurde schrill

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] vt

a. (tool, blade) → affilare; (pencil) → temperare

b. (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

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

sharp

(ʃaːp) adjective

1. having a thin edge that can cut or a point that can pierce. a sharp knife. skerp قاطِع، حاد изострен afiado ostrý scharf skarp; spids κοφτερός, μυτερόςafilado, puntiagudo terav تيز terävä aiguisé; pointuחד पैना, तेज, तीक्ष्ण, चोखा oštar, bridak éles tajam beittur aguzzo, affilato 鋭い 날카로운 aštrus ass tajam scherp kvass, skarp; spissostry تیره afiado ascuţit; tăios острый ostrý oster oštar skarp, vass แหลมคม keskin 鋒利的，尖的 гострий, гострокінцевий تیز دھاردار sắc, nhọn, bén 锋利的，尖的

2. (of pictures, outlines etc) clear and distinct. the sharp outline of the mountain. skerp, duidelik واضِح وبارِز ясен nítido ostrý deutlich skarp σαφής, ξεκάθαροςdefinido, nítido, marcado selge(jooneline) واضح selkeä netברור स्पष्ट jasan, bistar éles jelas skarpur nitido はっきりした 뚜렷한 ryškus ass; izteikts jelas scherpskarp, tydeligostry واضح nítido clar, dis­tinct чёткий výrazný, zreteľný oster oštar skarp, tydlig ชัดเจน belirgin 輪廓鮮明的 виразний, чіткий ہموار پہلوؤں یا خطوط پر مشتمل rõ ràng, rõ nét 轮廓鲜明的

3. (of changes in direction) sudden and quick. a sharp left turn. skerp فُجائي وَسريع рязък súbito ostrý scharf brat απότομος, γρήγοροςbrusco, repentino, súbito äkiline سريع و ناگهاني jyrkkä brusqueחד अचानक nagao, oštar éles (kanyar) tajam krappur brusco 急な 급격한 staigus straujš tajam scherpbrå, skarpostry په چټكه او ناڅاپه ډول súbito brusc резкий, крутой ostrý, prudký oster oštra skarp, tvär ทันทีทันใด anî 突然快速的 крутий, різкий اچانک موڑ thình lình, đột ngột 急转的

4. (of pain etc) keen, acute or intense. He gets a sharp pain after eating. skerp, intens مُبَرِّح،حاد силен agudo silný heftig stærk οξύς, έντονοςagudo, fuerte äge, terav هوشيار terävä violent חוֹדֵר तेज oštar metsző akut sár, nístandi forte, acuto 激しい 격렬한 aštrus ass; spējš mencucuk-cucuk scherpskjærende, sterkostry ځیرک agudo violent острый silný oster oštar häftig, svår ฉับพลัน şiddetli, keskin 劇烈的(痛等) різкий; пронизливий اچانک، شدید buốt, nhói 剧烈的（痛等）

5. (often with with) severe. Don't be so sharp with the child!; She got a sharp reproach from me. erge قاسٍ язвителен severo přísný hart streng σοβαρός, αυστηρόςsevero karm سخت و جدي kärkevä sévèreחריף तीक्ष्ण oštar, osoran szigorú keras harður severo きびしい 심한 žiaurus, smarkus ass; bargs bengkeng scherpstreng, hardsrogi سخت severo sever суровый, резкий prísny oster grub sträng รุนแรง sert 嚴厲的 суворий, жорстокий شدید chỉ trích gay gắt 严厉的

6. alert. Dogs have sharp ears. wakker يَقِظ، مُتَيَقِّظ остър agudo jemný scharf skarp οξυδερκής, ευαίσθητοςagudo erk تيزبين tarkka finחד पैना budan éles (fül) tajam skarpur, næmur fine 鋭敏な 예리한 geras, budrus modrs; ar asu dzirdi/redzi peka scherpskarp, spissostry, czujny تيز بين agudo fin тонкий, острый ostrý, bdelý oster dobrog sluha skarp ไว keskin 機警的 спостережливий تیز thính, tinh ,nhạy 机警的

7. shrill and sudden. a sharp cry. skerp فُجائي وحاد пронизващ estridente pronikavý schrill skingrende διαπεραστικός και ξαφνικός repentino, súbito lõikav تيز و زير viiltävä perçantצורם तेज vrištav erős melengking skerandi, hvellur acuto かん高い 날카로운 veriantis, šaižus spalgs; griezīgs nyaring dan tiba-tiba schelskingrende, skarpprzeraźliwy تیره estridente ascuţit пронзительный prenikavý rezek oštar genomträngande, gäll เสียดแทง tiz 剌耳的 різкий, пронизливий اچانک اور پتلی آواز the thé 剌耳的

8. of a musical note, raised a semitone; too high in pitch. F sharp; That last note was sharp. te hoog حادُّ النَّغَمَه много висок sustenido o půltón zvýšený; příliš vysoký hoch, erhöht med kryds for; falsk δίεσηdesafinado diees, pisut kõrge زيرتر؛نيم پرده ylävireinen diésé; trop haut דִיאֶז सामान्य स्वर से ऊंचा povišen (ton) fél hanggal felemelt (pl. Fisz-dúr) terlalu tinggi of hár; hækkaður um hálftón diesis 半音高い 반음 높은, 너무 높은 paaukštintas pustoniu (su diezu) pustoni augstāks; atzīmēts ar diēzu syap kruis, te hoog (note) med kryss; falsk, for høy podwyższony o pół tonu, za wysoki نیم پرده sustenido diez; prea înalt диезный, взятый на полтона выше o poltón zvýšený; príliš vysoký zvišan povišen höjd en halv ton, en halv ton för hög ดนตรีสูงกว่าระดับปกติ diyez, yarım ton yükseltilmiş (音符)升半音的，音高過高的 підвищений на півтону; діезний اونچے سر کی آواز thăng, cao nửa cung （音）升半音的，音偏高的

adverb

1. punctually. Come at six (o'clock) sharp. stiptelik بالضَّبْط، تماماً точно em ponto přesně genau præcist ακριβώςen punto täpselt سر وقت tasan pileבמדויק ठीक točno pontosan, pontban tepat stundvíslega in punto かっきり 정확히 lygiai precīzi; tieši tepat preciespresispunkt وخت پيژندونكى، پرقول او وعدې ټينګ em ponto fix точно presne točno tačno på slaget, prick ตรงเวลา tam, dakikası dakikasına (時間)整點 точно, пунктуально بالکل عین وقت پر đúng 正点（指时刻）

2. with an abrupt change of direction. Turn sharp left here. skielik فَجأة وبصورةٍ حادَّه рязко de repente ostře scharf skarpt απότομαbruscamente äkki ناگهان jyrkästi tout à faitפתאומי तीखा oštro élesen (balra stb.) tajam snögglega, skarpt (di colpo) 急に 급격히 staigiai strauji tajam scherpskarpt ostro ناڅاپی de repente brusc круто ostro, prudko naglo naglo skarpt, tvärt หักมุม aniden 急轉 різко, круто اچانک تیز موڑ đột ngột, bất thình lình 急转

3. at too high a pitch. You're singing sharp. te hoog بِنَغمَةٍ حادَّه фалшиво fora de tom příliš vysoko zu hoch falskt σε υψηλό τόνο demasiado alto liiga kõrgelt اوج ylävireisesti trop haut שַׁר גָבוֹה מִדַי सामान्य स्वर से ऊंची आवाज previsoko (pjevati, svirati) hamisan (kissé magasan) terlalu tinggi of hátt (troppo alto) 半音高く 너무 넢게 per aukštai par augstu sumbang tinggi te hoog falskt, for høyt za wysoko اوج fora de tom prea sus слишком высоко príliš vysoko previsoko povišeno för högt เสียงสูง diyezden, bir üst perdeden 音高過高地 у надто високому тоні بہت اونچا سر cao quá độ cao đúng 音偏高地

noun

1. a sharp note. sharps and flats. kruis نَغْمَة موسيقيَّه حادَّه фалшив тон sustenido křížek die Erhöhung krydsnode ψηλή νότα sostenido dieesiga noot زننده korotettu nuotti dièse דִיאֶז सामान्य स्वर से ऊंचा nota povišena za pola tona kereszt (zenei jel), emelés (fél hanggal) nada tinggi hækkaður tónn diesis 半音高い音 높은 음 diezas diēzs sumbang tinggi kruisnote med kryss nuta z krzyżykiem وهوونکی sustenido diez диез krížik zvišan ton povišena nota förtecken, höjd ton เสียงสูง diyez 升高半音 звук, підвищений на півтона بلند اور چڑھا سر nốt thăng 升号，升半音

2. a sign (#) to show that a note is to be raised a semitone. halftoonteken علامة ( ) لِتُشير الى إرتفاع النَّغَمَه муз. диез sustenido křížek das Kreuz kryds δίεσηsostenido dieesimärk ديز korotusmerkki dièse סִימָן דִיאֶז संकेत कि आवाज सामान्य स्वर से ऊंची हो povisilica kereszt tanda # kross, hækkunarmerki diesis シャープ記号 올림표(#) diezas diēzs syap kruis )`}}kryss ({{kryss}}) krzyżyk د لمبر علامه sustenido diez знак диеза krížik višaj povisilica kors เครื่องหมายเสียงสูง diyez işareti 升半音記號 діез انوچے سر کو ظاہر کرنے کی علامت dấu thăng 升半音

ˈsharpen verb

to make or grow sharp. He sharpened his pencil. skerp maak يَشْحَذ، يَبْري подострям afiar ořezat, naostřit spitzen slibe; spidse ξύνω, τροχίζω, ακονίζωafilar, sacar punta a teritama تيزتر شدن teroittaa aiguiser לְחַדֵד तेज. तीखा naoštriti, zašiljiti (ki)hegyez meruncingkan skerpa, brÿna; ydda aguzzare 鋭くする 날카롭게 하다 drožti []asināt menajamkan slijpenkvesse, spisseostrzyć تېره كول: تېره كېدل afiar a ascuţi точить, заострять zastrúhať, naostriť šiliti naoštriti vässa, skärpa, slipa ทำให้คม sivriltmek 削尖，變尖 гострити, загострювати تیز کرنا یا ہونا làm cho sắc 削尖

ˈsharpener noun

an instrument for sharpening. a pencil-sharpener. skerpmaker آلة السَّن، مِبْراه острилка afiadeira ořezávátko; brus der Spitzer slibemaskine; blyantspidser ξύστρα, ακόνιsacapuntas teritaja تيز كننده teroitin aiguisoirמחדד पेंसिल छिलने का यंत्र šiljilo, oštrilo hegyező alat peruncing skerpir, brÿni; yddari temperamatite とぐ道具 깎는(가는) 기계 drožtukas zīmuļu asināmais pengasah slijperblyantspisser, knivsliper przyrząd do ostrzenia تیره کوونکی afiadeira ascuţitoare точилка strúhadlo; brús šilček oštrač [penn]vässare ที่เหลา kalemtıraş; bileyici 磨削工具(如削鉛筆機) точилка; гострильний верстат پینسل تیز کرنے کا آلہ dụng cụ mài gọt 磨削器，削刀

ˈsharply adverb

in a sharp manner. a sharply-pointed piece of glass; The road turned sharply to the left; He rebuked her sharply. skerp, streng, erg بِحِدَّه рязко de maneira aguda ostře scharf skarpt αιχμηρά, απότομαbruscamente, repentinamente teravalt, äkki به تندي terävästi brusquement בְּצוּרָה חַדָה तीक्ष्णता से, पैनापन oštro élesen secara tajam snögglega, skarplega, harkalega bruscamente; nettamente 鋭く 날카롭게 aštriai, smailai, staigiai asi; strauji; bargi dengan tajam scherpskarpslipt; skarpt ostro په تېره ډول، په چابكۍ، په چټكۍ de maneira aguda brusc остро; резко ostro ostro oštro vasst, skarpt, strängt อย่างแหลมคม sert; keskin 尖銳地，急劇地 гостро; різко اچانک، تیزي سے sắc, nhọn, nhạy 锐利地，急剧地

ˈsharpness noun

skerpheid حِدَّه острота agudeza ostrost, špičatost die Schärfe skarphed αιχμηρότητα, δρίμυτητα agudeza, brusquedad, nitidez, severidad teravus تيزي terävyys nettetéחדות, חריפות तीक्ष्णता oštrina, britkost élesség, hegyesség ketajaman skarpleiki acutezza; nettezza 鋭さ 날카로움 aštrumas asums; straujums; bargums ketajaman scherpteskarphet, spisshetostrość, bystrość تېره والى: چټكتيا، ځيرك تيا agudeza claritate острота; резкость ostrosť; špicatosť ostrina oštrina skärpa ความแหลมคม keskinlik, sivrilik 鋒利 гострість; різкість تیزی، نکیلاپن độ sắc, độ nhọn 锋利

sharp practice

dishonesty or cheating. oneerlikheid خِداع، غِش، خِيانَه измамване desonestidade čachry die Gaunerei ufine forretningsmetoder κομπίνα, κατεργαριά mañas, tejemanejes, chanchullos riukalikkus كلاه شرعي epärehellisyys procédés malhonnêtes עִיסוּק מְפוּקְפָּק बेइमानी या धोखाधड़ी trikovi, nepošteni postupci csalás penipuan óheiðarleiki, svindl intrallazzo, ずるさ 사기 행위 sukčiavimas blēdība; krāpšana ketidakjujuran oneerlijke praktijken uærlighet, juksoszustwo د لمبر علامه desonestidade trişare мошенничество machinácie sleparija nepoštenje fula knep ความคดโกง şüpheli iş 欺詐 шахрайство, махлярство دھوکے کی چالیں thủ đoạn bất lương 欺诈

ˌsharp-ˈwitted adjective

intelligent and alert. a sharp-witted boy. intelligent حاد الذَّكاء с остър ум vivo bystrý aufgeweckt begavet; vågen εύστροφοςperspicaz, vivo nutikas زيرك terävä-älyinen vifפיקח कुशाग्रबुद्धि oštrouman éles eszű cerdik skarpur arguto 鋭い 총명한 aštraus proto apķērīgs; apveltīts ar asu prātu cerdik dan peka scherpzinnigslagferdig; rask i oppfatningenbystry ځیرک vivo vivace проницательный; остроумный bystrý bistroumen oštrouman skarpsinnig, bitande kvick ปัญญาไว keskin zekâlı 機靈的 проникливий; з метким розумом ذہین، ہوشیار nhanh trí 机智的

look sharp

to be quick or to hurry. Bring me the books and look sharp (about it)! maak gou أسْرِع حالا! إسْتَعْجِل бързам despachar-se pospíšit si mach´ schnell lad det gå lidt hurtigt κάνω γρήγορα, βιάζομαι ¡date prisa!, ¡espabílate! tee kähku! سريع و محكم toimia nopeasti faire vite לְהִזדַרֵז जल्दी požuriti se (s čim) siess! cepat vera snöggur sbrigarsi すばやい 서둘러라 paskubėk! greičiau! ātrāk!; veicīgāk! cepat opschietenvær rask!; la det gå litt kvikt! sprężyć się تند او محکم despachar-se a se grăbi, a face ceva repede/rapid торопиться poponáhľať sa pa hitro! požuriti sno (raska) på! รีบ acele etmek, çabuk olmak 趕快 швидше!; жвавіше! تیزي سے کرنا nhanh, mau 赶快

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