sharp (redirected from sharps)

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.

---

sharp

Adjective

1. having a keen cutting edge

2. tapering to an edge or point

3. involving a sudden change in direction: a sharp bend on a road, a sharp rise in prices

4. moving, acting, or reacting quickly: sharp reflexes

5. clearly defined: a sharp contrast

6. quick to notice or understand things; keen-witted

7. clever in an underhand way: sharp practices

8. bitter or harsh: a sharp response

9. shrill or penetrating: a sharp cry of horror

10. having a bitter or sour taste

11. (of pain or cold) acute or biting: a sharp gust of wind

12. Music

a. (of a note) raised in pitch by one semitone: F sharp

b. (of an instrument or voice) out of tune by being too high in pitch

13. Informal neat and stylish: a sharp dresser

Adverb

1. promptly

2. exactly: at ten o'clock sharp

3. Music

a. higher than a standard pitch

b. out of tune by being too high in pitch: she sings sharp

Noun

1. Music

a. an accidental that raises the pitch of a note by one semitone Symbol: \&s

b. a note affected by this accidental

2. Informal a cheat; a cardsharp [Old English scearp]

sharpish adj
sharply adv
sharpness n

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	sharp - a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named musical notation - (music) notation used by musicians double sharp - a musical notation of two sharps in front of a note indicating that it is to be raised by two semitones
	2.	sharp - a long thin sewing needle with a sharp point sewing needle - a needle used in sewing to pull thread through cloth
Adj.	1.	sharp - (of something seen or heard) clearly defined; "a sharp photographic image"; "the sharp crack of a twig"; "the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot" crisp distinct - easy to perceive; especially clearly outlined; "a distinct flavor"; "a distinct odor of turpentine"; "a distinct outline"; "the ship appeared as a distinct silhouette"; "distinct fingerprints"
	2.	sharp - ending in a sharp point acuate, needlelike, acute pointed - having a point
	3.	sharp - having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" incisive, keen, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, knifelike, discriminating, acute perceptive - having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment; "a perceptive eye"; "a perceptive observation"
	4.	sharp - marked by practical hardheaded intelligence; "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow" astute, shrewd smart - showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
	5.	sharp - harsh; "sharp criticism"; "a sharp-worded exchange"; "a tart remark" sharp-worded, tart unpleasant - disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings ; "an unpleasant personality"; "unpleasant repercussions"; "unpleasant odors"
	6.	sharp - having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones ; "a shrill whistle"; "a shrill gaiety" shrill high-pitched, high - used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency
	7.	sharp - extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" precipitous, abrupt steep - having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs"
	8.	sharp - keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point; "a sharp pain"; "sharp winds" dull - not keenly felt; "a dull throbbing"; "dull pain"
	9.	sharp - having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing; "a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point" pointed - having a point dull - not having a sharp edge or point; "the knife was too dull to be of any use"
	10.	sharp - (of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone; "C sharp" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner flat - (of a musical note) lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone; "B flat" natural - (of a musical note) being neither raised nor lowered by one chromatic semitone; "a natural scale"; "B natural"
	11.	sharp - very sudden and in great amount or degree; "a sharp drop in the stock market" sudden - happening without warning or in a short space of time; "a sudden storm"; "a sudden decision"; "a sudden cure"
	12.	sharp - quick and forceful; "a sharp blow" forceful - characterized by or full of force or strength (often but not necessarily physical); "a forceful speaker"; "a forceful personality"; "forceful measures"; "a forceful plan for peace"
Adv.	1.	sharp - 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" acutely, sharply

---

sharp

adjective 1. keen, cutting, sharpened, honed, jagged, knife-edged, razor-sharp, serrated, knifelike << OPPOSITE blunt

adjective 2. quick-witted, clever, astute, knowing, ready, quick, bright, alert, subtle, penetrating, apt, discerning, on the ball (informal) perceptive, observant, long-headed << OPPOSITE dim

adjective 3. cutting, biting, severe, bitter, harsh, scathing, acrimonious, barbed, hurtful, sarcastic, sardonic, caustic, vitriolic, trenchant, mordant, mordacious, acerb << OPPOSITE gentle

adjective 4. sudden, marked, abrupt, extreme, distinct << OPPOSITE gradual

adjective 5. clear, distinct, clear-cut, well-defined, crisp << OPPOSITE indistinct

adjective 6. sour, tart, pungent, hot, burning, acid, acerbic, acrid, piquant, acetic, vinegary, acerb << OPPOSITE bland

adjective 7. (Informal) stylish, smart, fashionable, trendy (informal) chic, classy (slang) snappy, natty (informal) dressy, schmick Austral. (informal)

adjective 8. acute, violent, severe, intense, painful, shooting, distressing, stabbing, fierce, stinging, piercing, sore, excruciating, gut-wrenching

adverb 9. promptly, precisely, exactly, on time, on the dot, punctually << OPPOSITE approximately << OPPOSITE gradually

Translations

sharp [ʃɑːp] adj [razor, knife] → afilado; [point] → puntiagudo; [outline] → definido; [pain] → intenso;

(MUS) → desafinado; [contrast] → marcado; [voice] → agudo; [curve, bend] → cerrado; [person] (= quick-witted); avispado: (= dishonest); poco escrupuloso

n (MUS) → sostenido

adv at 2 o'clock sharp → a las 2 en punto;

to be sharp with sb → hablar a algn de forma brusca y tajante;

turn sharp left → tuerce del todo a la izquierda

---

sharp [ʃɑːp] adj [razor, knife] → tranchant(e) → bien aiguisé(e); [point, voice] → aigu(ë); [nose, chin] → pointu(e); [outline, increase] → net(te); [curve, bend] → brusque; [cold, pain] → vif(vive); [taste] → piquant(e) → âcre;

(Mus) → dièse; [person] (= quick-witted); vif(vive) → éveillé(e): (= unscrupulous); malhonnête

n (Mus) → dièse m

adv at 2 o'clock sharp → à 2 heures pile or tapantes;

turn sharp left → tournez immédiatement à gauche;

to be sharp with sb → être brusque avec qn;

look sharp! → dépêche-toi!

---

sharp [ʃɑːp] adj → scharf;

(point, nose, chin) → spitz;

(pain) → heftig;

(cold) → schneidend;

(Mus) → zu hoch;

(increase) → stark;

(person) (quick-witted) → clever: (dishonest) → gerissen

n (Mus) → Kreuz nt

adv at 2 o'clock sharp → um Punkt 2 Uhr;

turn sharp left → biegen Sie scharf nach links ab;

to be sharp with sb → schroff mit jdm sein;

sharp practices (Comm) → unsaubere Geschäfte pl;

C sharp (Mus) → Cis nt;

look sharp! → (ein bisschen) dalli! (inf)

---

sharp [ʃɑːp] adj [razor, knife] → affilato/a; [point] → acuto/a, acuminato/a; [nose, chin] → aguzzo/a; [outline] → netto/a; [curve, bend] → stretto/a, accentuato/a; [cold, pain] → pungente; [voice] → stridulo/a; [person] (= quick-witted); sveglio/a: (= unscrupulous); disonesto/a;

(MUS): C sharp → do diesis

n (MUS) → diesis m inv

adv at 2 o'clock sharp → alle due in punto;

turn sharp left → giri tutto a sinistra;

to be sharp with sb → rimproverare qn;

look sharp! → sbrigati!