sharpen

sharp·en  (shärpn)

tr. & intr.v. sharp·ened, sharp·en·ing, sharp·ens

To make or become sharp or sharper.

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sharpen·er n.

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sharpen

Verb

to make or become sharp or sharper

sharpener n

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

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sharpen

verb make sharp, hone, whet, grind, edge, strop, put an edge on

Translations

sharpen [ˈʃɑːpn] vt → afilar [+ pencil]; sacar punta a;

(fig) → agudizar

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sharpen [ˈʃɑːpn] sharp vt → aiguiser [+ pencil]; tailler (fig); aviver

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sharpen [ˈʃɑːpn] sharp vt → schleifen, schärfen;

(pencil, stick etc) → (an)spitzen (fig) (appetite) → anregen

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sharpen [ˈʃɑːpən] vt → affilare [+ pencil]; fare la punta a;

(fig) → aguzzare