sharpen

sharpen
I
(Roget's IV) v.
1. [To make keen]
Syn. grind, file, hone, put an edge on, grind to a fine edge, hone to a razor edge, make sharp, make acute, whet, strop, give an edge to, put a point on, give a fine point to.
Ant. flatten*, thicken, turn.
2. [To make more exact]
Syn. focus, bring into focus, intensify, make clear, make clearer, clarify, outline distinctly, make more distinct.
Ant. confuse*, cloud, obscure.
II
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.
hone, edge, whet, strop, file, grind, taper.
ANT.: blunt, dull, round off
III
(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb To give a sharp edge to: acuminate, edge, hone1, whet. See SHARP.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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  • Sharpen — Sharp en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sarpened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sharpening}.] [See {Sharp}, a.] To make sharp. Specifically: (a) To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper; as, to sharpen an ax, or the teeth of a saw. (b) To render more… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sharpen up — [phrasal verb] : to become better, smarter, more skillful, etc. You d better sharpen up if you want to keep your job. • • • Main Entry: ↑sharpen …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sharpen — Sharp en, v. i. To grow or become sharp. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sharpen — index enhance, intensify Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • sharpen — 1520s, from SHARP (Cf. sharp) + EN (Cf. en) (1). Related: Sharpened; sharpening …   Etymology dictionary

  • sharpen — [v] make knifelike acuminate, dress, edge, file, grind, hone, make acute, make sharp, put an edge on, put a point on, sharp, stroke, strop, taper, whet; concepts 137,250 Ant. blunt, dull …   New thesaurus

  • sharpen — ► VERB ▪ make or become sharp. DERIVATIVES sharpener noun …   English terms dictionary

  • sharpen — [shär′pən] vt., vi. to make or become sharp or sharper sharpener n …   English World dictionary

  • sharpen — [[t]ʃɑ͟ː(r)pən[/t]] sharpens, sharpening, sharpened 1) V ERG If your senses, understanding, or skills sharpen or are sharpened, you become better at noticing things, thinking, or doing something. Her gaze sharpened, as if she had seen something… …   English dictionary

  • sharpen */ — UK [ˈʃɑː(r)pən] / US [ˈʃɑrpən] verb Word forms sharpen : present tense I/you/we/they sharpen he/she/it sharpens present participle sharpening past tense sharpened past participle sharpened 1) [transitive] to make something such as a knife, tool,… …   English dictionary

  • sharpen — sharp|en [ ʃarpən ] verb * 1. ) transitive to make something such as a knife, tool, or pencil sharp 2. ) sharpen or sharpen up intransitive or transitive to improve or make something improve: The program will give young athletes the chance to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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