knife-sharpener

A man uses a knife-sharpener to sharpen a kitchen knife.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tool for sharpening knives: A "knife-sharpener" is an implement or device designed to restore or maintain the sharp edge of a knife blade.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He used a knife-sharpener to make the dull blade cut through vegetables easily. (A tool to sharpen a knife's edge.)
  • The chef keeps a knife-sharpener in the kitchen drawer. (A device for maintaining knife sharpness.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use a knife-sharpener": to apply the tool for sharpening.

  • She carefully used the knife-sharpener on the carving knife. (She applied the tool to sharpen the knife.)

• "electric knife-sharpener": a powered device that sharpens knives automatically.

  • An electric knife-sharpener is faster than a manual stone. (A machine for sharpening knives.)

Variants and Related Words

• Knife (n): a cutting tool with a sharp blade.
  • He sliced the bread with a knife. (A cutting instrument.)
• Sharpener (n): a device for making edges sharp.
  • A pencil sharpener is used for pencils; a knife-sharpener is for knives. (A tool for sharpening.)
• Knife-sharpening (adj): relating to the act of sharpening knives.
  • She took a knife-sharpening class. (A course on sharpening knives.)

Synonyms

• Whetstone: a stone used for sharpening blades.
• Steel: a rod used to hone knife edges.
• Hone: a tool or stone for fine sharpening.

Related Idioms

• "to have a knife-sharpener's touch": to be skilled at sharpening knives.

  • He has a knife-sharpener's touch; every blade he works on becomes razor-sharp. (He is expert at sharpening knives.)

• "as useful as a knife-sharpener to a butcher": extremely practical or essential.

  • For a chef, a good knife-sharpener is as useful as a knife-sharpener to a butcher. (Indispensable tool.)