Library / English Dictionary

HONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("hone" is a kind of...):

whetstone (a flat stone for sharpening edged tools or knives)

Derivation:

hone (sharpen with a hone)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make perfect or complete

Example:

perfect your French in Paris!

Synonyms:

hone; perfect

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "hone" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hone"):

optimise; optimize (make optimal; get the most out of; use best)

brush up; polish; polish up; round; round off (bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sharpen with a hone

Example:

hone a knife

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "hone" is one way to...):

sharpen (make sharp or sharper)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hone"):

set (give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

hone (a whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors)

Credits