sharpen

/'ʃɑ:pən/
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sharpen

The chef uses a steel rod to sharpen the kitchen knife.

Definition

  1. Verb (transitive):

    • To make (an edge or point) sharper: To increase the keenness or sharpness of a blade, point, or similar object.
    • To make (something) more distinct, clear, or intense: To improve the clarity, focus, or acuity of a sense, image, sound, or concept.
    • To make (something) more effective or precise: To improve the quality, effectiveness, or definition of a skill, argument, or understanding.

  2. Verb (intransitive):

    • To become sharper or more distinct: To increase in sharpness, clarity, or intensity.
Examples of Usage
  • Transitive Verb:
    • He needs to sharpen the kitchen knives before he can carve the roast.
    • The optician prescribed new lenses to sharpen her vision.
    • The editor helped sharpen the focus of the author's argument.
  • Intransitive Verb:
    • The image on the screen sharpened as he adjusted the focus.
    • The political debate sharpened in the weeks before the election.
Advanced Usage
  • "Sharpen one's wits": To make one's mind more alert or quick-thinking.
    • The puzzle game is designed to sharpen your wits.
  • "Sharpen the appetite": To make one feel more hungry.
    • A short walk before dinner can help sharpen your appetite.
Variants and Related Words
  • Sharpener (noun): A tool or device used for sharpening.
    • He used a pencil sharpener.
  • Sharp (adjective): Having a keen edge or point; acute, distinct, or intense.
    • A sharp knife; a sharp image; a sharp pain.
  • Sharpening (noun/gerund): The act or process of making something sharp.
    • The sharpening of skills takes practice.
Synonyms
  • Hone: To sharpen (a blade) or refine (a skill).
  • Whet: To sharpen (a blade) or stimulate (an appetite or desire).
  • Focus: To adjust to make an image clear and sharp.
  • Intensify: To make more acute or strong.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Sharpen" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly or with prepositions like "up.") - Sharpen up: (Informal) To improve or become more effective quickly. - You need to sharpen up if you want to win this competition.

Related Idioms
  • Sharpen your pencil: To prepare to work hard, especially on calculations or detailed work; often used figuratively to mean reconsidering costs or figures to make them lower.
    • If you want the contract, you'll have to sharpen your pencil on the price.
  • Sharpen the saw: (From Stephen Covey's principles) To preserve and enhance your greatest asset—yourself—by renewing your physical, mental, and social/emotional capacities.
    • Taking a day off to read and relax is my way of sharpening the saw.
sharpen

The chef uses a steel rod to sharpen the kitchen knife.

Verb
  1. make (one's senses) more acute
    • This drug will sharpen your vision
  2. give a point to
    • The candles are tapered
  3. raise the pitch of (musical notes)
  4. make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper
  5. put (an image) into focus; we cannot enjoy the movie"
    • Please focus the image
  6. become sharp or sharper
    • The debate sharpened
  7. make crisp or more crisp and precise
    • We had to sharpen our arguments
  8. make sharp or sharper
    • sharpen the knives

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