I. ˈshärp, ˈshȧp adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scearp; akin to Old High German scarf sharp, Old Norse skarpr, Middle Irish cerb sharp, Russian shcherba notch, Greek keirein to cut — more at shear
1. : adapted to cutting or piercing: as
a.
(1) : having a thin keen edge
a sharp sword
(2) : of such thinness and keenness as to facilitate cutting
an axe with a sharp edge
b.
(1) : tapering to a fine point
a sharp needle
(2) : of such tapered fineness as to facilitate piercing
a pin with a sharp point
c. : beset with prickles : prickly
sharp brambles and thorns
d. : briskly or bitingly cold : nipping , raw
a sharp wind
several sharp frosts
e. : composed of hard angular particles : gritty
sharp sand
2.
a. : keen in intellect : mentally alert and able : quick-witted
b. : keen in perception : efficient in sensory function
a sharp ear
sharp sight
c. : keen in attention : vigilant
a sharp lookout
kept a sharp watch on the market
d.
(1) obsolete : discriminating , sagacious
(2) : cleverly biting : aptly witty
sharp bits of whimsy
e. : keen in attention to one's own interest : unduly smart or shrewd in practical matters sometimes to the point of being unethical
a sharp trader
sometimes the customer may be sharper than the dealer
3. : keen in spirit or action : violent , impetuous : as
a. : conducted with eagerness or fierceness : fiery , furious
a sharp military engagement
b. : closely or keenly contested
a sharp run
also : full of activity or energy : brisk
sharp blows
a sharp young runner
hounds in sharp condition
c.
(1) of a hawk : urgent for prey or food
(2) : impatient for gratification : demanding or requiring to be sated
a sharp appetite
d. : capable of acting or reacting strongly : very active in some particular way ; especially : caustic
a sharp lime liquor for removing hair from hides
a sharp soap rich in free alkali
4. : severe , harsh , merciless : as
a. : inclined to or marked by intense irritability or anger : irascible
a sharp temper
b. : very trying to the feelings or spirit : causing intense mental or physical distress
a sharp pain
in sharpest distress
c. : cutting in language or import : conveying or intended to convey rebuke, anger, or satire
sharp words
a sharp rebuke
d. obsolete : austere
e.
(1) archaic : flowing rapidly or turbulently — used of a stream of water
(2) : marked by sudden brusque distention of the artery : jerky
a sharp pulse
5. : affecting the senses or sense organs intensely: as
a.
(1) : having a characteristic strong and usually pungent or acid odor or flavor
sharp cheese
(2) : acrid
a sharp odor
b. : having a characteristic strong and usually piercing or shrill sound
a sharp whistle
a sharp clap of thunder
c. : having the effect of or involving a sudden brilliant display of light
a sharp flash
6.
a. : terminating in a point or edge : not smoothly obtuse or rounded : peaked , ridged , angular
sharp features
a sharp hill
b.
(1) of an angle : acute
(2) : requiring or involving an abrupt change of direction : formed about an acute angle
a sharp turn
(3) : involving marked change and usually increase of gradient
a sharp climb
a sharp dip in the road
c. : appearing as if cut off clean : clear in outline or detail : distinct
figures standing out sharp against the sky
a sharp photographic negative
d. : set forth with clarity and distinctness and usually with marked contrast between elements : free from shading or transition
a sharp line of demarcation
in sharp contrast with modern methods
e. : fine , narrow — used especially of the bows of a ship
7.
a. : having a high pitch
a sharp -toned musical instrument
b. of a musical note or tone : raised a half step in pitch
a sharp fourth
c. : higher than the true pitch of a musical tone
sang sharp all evening
d. : major , augmented — used of an interval in music
e. : having a sharp in the signature
played in the key of F sharp
8. : stylish , elegant , dressy
a sharp suit
9. of a radio circuit : having a rapidly varying response to different frequencies — opposed to broad
Synonyms:
keen , acute : sharp , in reference to things, may refer either to fine edges making cutting easy or to fine points facilitating piercing
a sharp knife
sharp as a needle
and in reference to persons may indicate quick accurate perception or analysis, general cleverness and resourcefulness, or tricky, sometimes questionable cunning
a cold and analytical mind, as sharp in criticism and often as bitter as has appeared — Irish Digest
lying was not high diplomacy, nor sharp practices good commerce — Haldane Macfall
keen may describe quite sharp cutting edges
a keen knife
In reference to persons it implies perceptiveness, clear-sightedness, skill in quick analysis, and overall mental readiness
skillfully and pleasantly written, it was in effect a keen attack upon the English Church and its clergy — H.E.Starr
his teaching was remarkable for a variety of qualities: swift and keen generalization, ready control of the background of ideas — C.N.Greenough
acute is likely to refer to angles; in reference to people it may suggest discrimination and analytical penetration equipping one to solve more knotty problems
it was very acute … to spot such a deep game — Joseph Conrad
as the acute reader will not have failed to note — Havelock Ellis
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English sharpen, from Old English scerpan, scyrpan; akin to Middle High German scherpfen to sharpen, Icelandic skerpa; causative from the root of English sharp (I)
transitive verb
1. dialect : sharpen
2. : to raise (as a musical tone) in pitch ; especially : to raise in pitch by a half step
3. archaic : to obtain by trickery or swindling : pilfer
intransitive verb
1. : to sing or play above the true pitch
2. archaic : to act the sharper
III. adverb
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English sharpe, from Old English scearpe, from scearp, adjective — more at sharp I
: in a sharp manner : sharply: as
a. obsolete : shrilly
b. : to a point or edge
c. : close to the wind
a ship braced sharp up
d. : higher than the true or accepted musical pitch
sang sharp
e. : abruptly , quickly , briskly
f. : precisely , exactly
an appointment at one o'clock sharp
g. : acutely — often used in combination
sharp -angled
h. : in a trim well-turned-out manner or style : so as to be notable for style or dressiness
looking sharp in a new tweed
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from sharp, adjective — more at sharp I
: one that is sharp: as
a. : a sharp edge or point
b. archaic : a sharp weapon
c.
(1) : a musical note or tone one half step higher than a note or tone named
C sharp is the sharp of C
(2) : a character ♯ on a line or space of the musical staff indicating a pitch a half step higher than the degree would indicate without it
(3) : the key next to the right of any given key on a keyboard musical instrument
d. sharps plural , chiefly Britain : middling 1b
e. : a long needle with sharp point for general sewing
f. : a real or self-styled expert ; also : sharper
g. : a thin sharp piece of diamond used especially for cutting, for cleaving, or for engraving gems