/ kiːn; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective
( keen·er , keen·est )
EAGER / ENTHUSIASTIC
1.
( especially BrE ) keen (to do sth) | keen (that ... ) | keen (on doing sth) wanting to do sth or wanting sth to happen very much
SYN eager :
John was very keen to help.
We are keen that our school should get involved too.
I wasn't too keen on going to the party.
2.
[ usually before noun ] enthusiastic about an activity or idea, etc. :
a keen sportsman
one of the keenest supporters of the team
LIKING SB / STH
3.
keen on sb/sth / on doing sth ( BrE , informal ) liking sb/sth very much; very interested in sb/sth :
Tom's very keen on Anna.
She's not keen on being told what to do.
➡ note at like
CLEVER
4.
[ only before noun ] quick to understand :
a keen mind / intellect
SYN sharp , acute
IDEAS / FEELINGS
5.
[ usually before noun ] strong or deep :
a keen sense of tradition
He took a keen interest in his grandson's education.
SENSES
6.
[ only before noun ] highly developed
SYN sharp :
Dogs have a keen sense of smell.
My friend has a keen eye for (= is good at noticing) a bargain.
COMPETITION
7.
involving people competing very hard with each other for sth :
There is keen competition for places at the college.
PRICES
8.
( especially BrE ) kept low in order to compete with other prices
SYN competitive , sharp
WIND
9.
( literary ) extremely cold
KNIFE
10.
[ usually before noun ] ( literary ) having a sharp edge or point
► keen·ly adverb :
a keenly fought contest
We were keenly aware of the danger.
► keen·ness noun [ U ]
•
IDIOMS
- (as) keen as mustard
—more at mad
■ verb
[ v ] (usually used in the progressive tenses) ( old-fashioned ) to make a loud high sad sound, when sb has died
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective Old English cēne wise, clever , also brave, daring , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koen and German kühn bold, brave. Current senses date from Middle English .
verb mid 19th cent.: from Irish caoinim I wail.