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sharpestmore about sharpest

sharpest


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sharp  \Sharp\,  a.  [Compar.  {Sharper};  superl.  {Sharpest}.]  [OE. 
  sharp,  scharp,  scarp,  AS  scearp;  akin  to  OS  skarp,  LG 
  scharp,  D.  scherp,  G.  scharf,  Dan.  &  Sw  skarp,  Icel.  skarpr 
  Cf  {Escarp},  {Scrape},  {Scorpion}.] 
  1.  Having  a  very  thin  edge  or  fine  point;  of  a  nature  to  cut 
  or  pierce  easily;  not  blunt  or  dull;  keen. 
 
  He  dies  upon  my  scimeter's  sharp  point.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  Terminating  in  a  point  or  edge;  not  obtuse  or  rounded; 
  somewhat  pointed  or  edged;  peaked  or  ridged;  as  a  sharp 
  hill;  sharp  features. 
 
  3.  Affecting  the  sense  as  if  pointed  or  cutting,  keen, 
  penetrating,  acute:  to  the  taste  or  smell,  pungent,  acid, 
  sour,  as  ammonia  has  a  sharp  taste  and  odor;  to  the 
  hearing,  piercing,  shrill,  as  a  sharp  sound  or  voice;  to 
  the  eye,  instantaneously  brilliant,  dazzling,  as  a  sharp 
  flash. 
 
  4.  (Mus.) 
  a  High  in  pitch;  acute;  as  a  sharp  note  or  tone. 
  b  Raised  a  semitone  in  pitch;  as  C  sharp  (C[sharp]), 
  which  is  a  half  step,  or  semitone,  higher  than  C. 
  c  So  high  as  to  be  out  of  tune,  or  above  true  pitch;  as 
  the  tone  is  sharp;  that  instrument  is  sharp.  Opposed 
  in  all  these  senses  to  {flat}. 
 
  5.  Very  trying  to  the  feelings;  piercing;  keen;  severe; 
  painful;  distressing;  as  sharp  pain,  weather;  a  sharp  and 
  frosty  air. 
 
  Sharp  misery  had  worn  him  to  the  bones.  --Shak. 
 
  The  morning  sharp  and  clear.  --Cowper. 
 
  In  sharpest  perils  faithful  proved.  --Keble. 
 
  6.  Cutting  in  language  or  import;  biting;  sarcastic;  cruel; 
  harsh;  rigorous;  severe;  as  a  sharp  rebuke.  ``That  sharp 
  look.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  To  that  place  the  sharp  Athenian  law  Can  not  pursue 
  us  --Shak. 
 
  Be  thy  words  severe,  Sharp  as  merits  but  the  sword 
  forbear.  --Dryden. 
 
  7.  Of  keen  perception;  quick  to  discern  or  distinguish; 
  having  nice  discrimination;  acute;  penetrating;  sagacious; 
  clever;  as  a  sharp  eye;  sharp  sight,  hearing,  or 
  judgment. 
 
  Nothing  makes  men  sharper  .  .  .  than  want 
  --Addison. 
 
  Many  other  things  belong  to  the  material  world, 
  wherein  the  sharpest  philosophers  have  never  ye? 
  arrived  at  clear  and  distinct  ideas.  --L.  Watts. 
 
  8.  Eager  in  pursuit;  keen  in  quest;  impatient  for 
  gratification;  keen;  as  a  sharp  appetite. 
 
  9.  Fierce;  ardent;  fiery;  violent;  impetuous.  ``In  sharp 
  contest  of  battle.''  --Milton. 
 
  A  sharp  assault  already  is  begun.  --Dryden. 
 
  10.  Keenly  or  unduly  attentive  to  one's  own  interest;  close 
  and  exact  in  dealing;  shrewd;  as  a  sharp  dealer;  a  sharp 
  customer. 
 
  The  necessity  of  being  so  sharp  and  exacting. 
  --Swift. 
 
  11.  Composed  of  hard,  angular  grains;  gritty;  as  sharp  sand. 
  --Moxon. 
 
  12.  Steep;  precipitous;  abrupt;  as  a  sharp  ascent  or 
  descent;  a  sharp  turn  or  curve. 
 
  13.  (Phonetics)  Uttered  in  a  whisper,  or  with  the  breath 
  alone,  without  voice,  as  certain  consonants,  such  as  p, 
  k,  t,  f;  surd;  nonvocal;  aspirated. 
 
  Note:  Sharp  is  often  used  in  the  formation  of  self-explaining 
  compounds;  as  sharp-cornered,  sharp-edged, 
  sharp-pointed,  sharp-tasted,  sharp-visaged,  etc 
 
  {Sharp  practice},  the  getting  of  an  advantage,  or  the  attempt 
  to  do  so  by  a  tricky  expedient. 
 
  {To  brace  sharp},  or  {To  sharp  up}  (Naut.),  to  turn  the  yards 
  to  the  most  oblique  position  possible,  that  the  ship  may 
  lie  well  up  to  the  wind. 
 
  Syn:  Keen;  acute;  piercing;  penetrating;  quick;  sagacious; 
  discerning;  shrewd;  witty;  ingenious;  sour;  acid;  tart; 
  pungent;  acrid;  severe;  poignant;  biting;  acrimonious; 
  sarcastic;  cutting;  bitter;  painful;  afflictive; 
  violent;  harsh;  fierce;  ardent;  fiery. 




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