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sharpen

DEFINITIONS OF: sharpen

1

v make sharp or sharper

“sharpen the knives”
Antonyms:
blunt, dull
make dull or blunt
Types:
show 6 types...
hide 6 types...
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
set
give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor
Type of:
alter, change, modify
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

v make crisp or more crisp and precise

“We had to sharpen our arguments”
Type of:
compound, deepen, heighten, intensify
make more intense, stronger, or more marked

v become sharp or sharper

“The debate sharpened”
Type of:
deepen, intensify
become more intense

v give a point to

Synonyms:
point, taper
Types:
acuminate
make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point
Type of:
change form, change shape, deform
assume a different shape or form

v make (one's senses) more acute

“This drug will sharpen your vision”
Synonyms:
heighten
Types:
subtilise, subtilize
make (senses) more keen
Type of:
compound, deepen, heighten, intensify
make more intense, stronger, or more marked

v put (an image) into focus

Synonyms:
focalise, focalize, focus
Antonyms:
blear, blur
make dim or indistinct
Types:
refocus
put again into focus or focus more sharply
Type of:
adjust, correct, set
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard

v make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper

Antonyms:
soften
make (images or sounds) soft or softer
Types:
focus
cause to converge on or toward a central point
refocus
focus once again; The physicist refocused the light beam"
Type of:
change intensity
increase or decrease in intensity

v raise the pitch of (musical notes)

Antonyms:
drop, flatten
lower the pitch of (musical notes)
Type of:
alter, change, modify
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
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