/ ʃɑːp; NAmE ʃɑːrp/ adjective , adverb , noun
■ adjective
( sharp·er , sharp·est )
EDGE / POINT
1.
having a fine edge or point, especially of sth that can cut or make a hole in sth :
a sharp knife
sharp teeth
OPP blunt
RISE / DROP / CHANGE
2.
[ usually before noun ] sudden and rapid, especially of a change in sth :
a sharp drop in prices
a sharp rise in crime
a sharp increase in unemployment
He heard a sharp intake of breath .
We need to give young criminals a short, sharp shock (= a punishment that is very unpleasant for a short time) .
CLEAR / DEFINITE
3.
[ usually before noun ] clear and definite :
a sharp outline
The photograph is not very sharp (= there are no clear contrasts between areas of light and shade) .
She drew a sharp distinction between domestic and international politics.
In sharp contrast to her mood, the clouds were breaking up to reveal a blue sky.
The issue must be brought into sharper focus.
MIND / EYES
4.
( of people or their minds, eyes, etc. ) quick to notice or understand things or to react :
to have sharp eyes
a girl of sharp intelligence
a sharp sense of humour
He kept a sharp lookout for any strangers.
It was very sharp of you to see that!
CRITICAL
5.
sharp (with sb) ( of a person or what they say ) critical or severe :
sharp criticism
Emma has a sharp tongue (= she often speaks in an unpleasant or unkind way) .
He was very sharp with me when I was late.
SOUNDS
6.
[ usually before noun ] loud, sudden and often high in tone :
She read out the list in sharp, clipped tones.
There was a sharp knock on the door.
FEELING
7.
( of a physical feeling or an emotion ) very strong and sudden, often like being cut or wounded
SYN intense :
He winced as a sharp pain shot through his leg.
Polly felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
CURVES
8.
changing direction suddenly :
a sharp bend in the road
a sharp turn to the left
FLAVOUR / SMELL
9.
strong and slightly bitter :
The cheese has a distinctively sharp taste.
➡ note at bitter
FROST / WIND
10.
used to describe a very cold or very severe frost or wind
—see also razor-sharp
CLEVER AND DISHONEST
11.
( disapproving ) ( of a person or their way of doing business ) clever but possibly dishonest :
His lawyer's a sharp operator .
The firm had to face some sharp practice from competing companies.
CLOTHES
12.
[ usually before noun ] ( of clothes or the way sb dresses ) fashionable and new :
The consultants were a group of men in sharp suits .
Todd is a sharp dresser .
FACE / FEATURES
13.
not full or round in shape :
a man with a thin face and sharp features (= a pointed nose and chin)
IN MUSIC
14.
used after the name of a note to mean a note a semitone / half tone higher :
the Piano Sonata in C sharp minor
OPP flat
—compare natural
15.
above the correct pitch (= how high or low a note sounds) :
That note sounded sharp.
OPP flat
► sharp·ness noun [ C , U ]:
There was a sudden sharpness in her voice.
•
IDIOMS
- look sharp
- not the sharpest knife in the drawer | not the sharpest tool in the box
- the sharp end (of sth)
■ adverb
EXACTLY
1.
used after an expression for a time of day to mean 'exactly' :
Please be here at seven o'clock sharp.
LEFT / RIGHT
2.
( BrE ) ~ left / right turning suddenly to the left or right
MUSIC
3.
( comparative sharp·er , no superlative ) above the correct pitch (= how high or low a note sounds)
OPP flat
■ noun
1.
( music ) a note played a semitone / half tone higher than the note that is named. The written symbol is (♯) :
It's a difficult piece to play, full of sharps and flats.
OPP flat
—compare natural
2.
sharps [ pl. ] ( medical ) things with a sharp edge or point, such as needles, and syringes :
the safe disposal of sharps
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English sc(e)arp , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch scherp and German scharf .