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sharply

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
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.]

sharply adv.
sharpness 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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.sharply - in an aggressive manner; "she was being sharply questioned"
2.sharply - in a well delineated manner; "the new style of Minoan pottery was sharply defined"
3.sharply - changing suddenly in direction and degree; "the road twists sharply after the light"; "turn sharp left here"; "the visor was acutely peaked"; "her shoes had acutely pointed toes"
4.sharply - very suddenly and to a great degree; "conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate"; "prices rose sharply"
Translations
Spanish sharply [ˈʃɑːplɪ] adv (= abruptly) → bruscamente (= clearly); claramente (= harshly); severamente
French sharply [ˈʃɑːplɪ] sharp adv [turn, stop] → brusquement; [stand out] → nettement; [criticize, retort] → sèchement, vertement
German sharply [ˈʃɑːplɪ] sharp advscharf;
(stop) → plötzlich;
(retort) → schroff

Italian sharply [ˈʃɑːplɪ] adv (= abruptly) → bruscamente (= clearly); nettamente (= harshly); duramente, aspramente

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
As soon as he entered, a He-Goat left in the cave sharply attacked him with his horns.
The clump of laurel in which the criminal lay was in the angle of a road which, after, ascending, southward, a steep acclivity to that point, turned sharply to the west, running along the summit for perhaps one hundred yards.
Both trailed to port, where we could not see them; and now the mizzen stood alone in sad and solitary grandeur, her flapping idle sails lighted up by the spreading conflagration, so that they were stamped very sharply upon the black add starry sky.
 
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