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sharpen |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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 quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious. The air . . . sharpened his visual ray To objects distant far --Milton. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. --Burke. c To make more eager; as to sharpen men's desires. Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite. --Shak. d To make more pungent and intense; as to sharpen a pain or disease. e To make biting, sarcastic, or severe. ``Sharpen each word.'' --E. Smith. f To render more shrill or piercing. Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and sharpen it --Bacon. g To make more tart or acid; to make sour; as the rays of the sun sharpen vinegar. h (Mus.) To raise, as a sound, by means of a sharp; to apply a sharp to From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Sharpen \Sharp"en\, v. i. To grow or become sharp. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: sharpen v 1: make sharp or sharper, as of knives [ant: {dull}] 2: make sharp or sharper; "We had to sharpen our arguments" 3: become sharp or sharper; "The debate sharpened" 4: put into focus; as of an image on a screen; "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie" [syn: {focus}] [ant: {blur}] 5: make sharp or sharper of images and sounds [ant: {soften}] 6: raise the pitch of (musical notes) [ant: {flatten}] 7: give a point to "The candles are tapered" [syn: {taper}, {point}] 8: make more acute; as of one's senses "This drug will sharpen your vision" [syn: {heighten}]
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