KEEN


Meaning of KEEN in English

/ 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.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.