Library / English Dictionary

SHARPEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put (an image) into focus

Example:

Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie

Synonyms:

focalise; focalize; focus; sharpen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Cause:

focalise; focalize; focus (become focussed or come into focus)

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

refocus (put again into focus or focus more sharply)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become sharp or sharper

Example:

The debate sharpened

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make crisp or more crisp and precise

Example:

We had to sharpen our arguments

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

compound; deepen; heighten; intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)

Cause:

sharpen (become sharp or sharper)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make (one's senses) more acute

Example:

This drug will sharpen your vision

Synonyms:

heighten; sharpen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

compound; deepen; heighten; intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)

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

subtilise; subtilize (make (senses) more keen)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

Give a point to

Example:

The candles are tapered

Synonyms:

point; sharpen; taper

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

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

acuminate (make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Raise the pitch of (musical notes)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

flatten (lower the pitch of (musical notes))

Sense 7

Meaning:

Make sharp or sharper

Example:

sharpen the knives

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

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

strap (sharpen with a strap)

edge (provide with an edge)

strop (sharpen on a strop)

whet (sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone)

hone (sharpen with a hone)

Sentence frames:

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

Antonym:

dull (make dull or blunt)

Derivation:

sharpener (any implement that is used to make something (an edge or a point) sharper)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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

change intensity (increase or decrease in intensity)

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

focus (cause to converge on or toward a central point)

Sentence frames:

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

Antonym:

soften (make (images or sounds) soft or softer)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This project aims to improve our understanding of the land-use practices that play a part in potentially far-reaching changes, and to sharpen predictions of atmospheric dust loading from the Southern Hemisphere.

(Sleeping sands of the Kalahari awaken after more than 10,000 years, NSF)

She has worn herself away by constant sharpening.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The post in the center, some nine feet long, was sharpened at the upper end, and was black with the stale blood of the creatures who had been impaled upon it.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One end of it was hardened by charring in the fire, and was sharpened to a fine point.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next morning, and the Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Being decidedly nettled herself, and longing to see him shake off the apathy that so altered him, Amy sharpened both tongue and pencil, and began.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I have more than once observed that in my second character, my faculties seemed sharpened to a point and my spirits more tensely elastic; thus it came about that, where Jekyll perhaps might have succumbed, Hyde rose to the importance of the moment.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It is my custom, dearling, and hath been since I have first known thee, to proclaim by herald in such camps, townships, or fortalices as I may chance to visit, that my lady-love, being beyond compare the fairest and sweetest in Christendom, I should deem it great honor and kindly condescension if any cavalier would run three courses against me with sharpened lances, should he chance to have a lady whose claim he was willing to advance.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He asked me, what my thoughts and speculations were, while I lay in the monkey’s paw; how I liked the victuals he gave me; his manner of feeding; and whether the fresh air on the roof had sharpened my stomach.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Thus relieved of a grievous load, I from that hour set to work afresh, resolved to pioneer my way through every difficulty: I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts; my memory, not naturally tenacious, improved with practice; exercise sharpened my wits; in a few weeks I was promoted to a higher class; in less than two months I was allowed to commence French and drawing.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)