sharpening
ˈʃɑrpənɪŋ
Definition Synonyms

Definition of sharpening - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

1.
activityprocess of making something sharp or sharper
  • Sharpening of the knife took only a few minutes.
pleura
2.
debrisUKsmall pieces left after sharpening a pencilUK
  • Pencil sharpenings were scattered on the desk.

Adjective

1.
toolsmaking something sharp or sharper
  • The sharpening tool is essential for chefs.
grinding honing whetting
2.
educationimproving skills or abilities
  • She attended a sharpening workshop for her writing.
developing enhancing
3.
mental clarityenhancing mental acuity or focus
  • The sharpening exercise boosted her concentration skills.
clarifying concentrating focusing
4.
mediaimproving the clarity of an image or sound
  • The sharpening filter made the photo clearer.
clarifying enhancing
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Expressions with sharpening

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long metal rod used to keep knives sharp
He used a sharpening steel before cutting the vegetables.
whetstone used for honing blades
The chef always carries a sharpening stone for his knives.

Origin of sharpening

Old English, scearp (sharp)

Terms with sharpening included in their meaning

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honingadj.
sharpening
in the process of sharpening or refining
sharpening
sharpen a blade or tool for better cutting
sharpening tool
thick disk of stone for sharpening or grinding tools
knife
tool for sharpening knives
tools
flat stone for sharpening knives or tools
sharpener
tool for sharpening knives
sharpening
sharpen a blade or tool using a stone
sharpening
stone used for sharpening blades

Examples of sharpening in a sentence

  • Daily drills led to a sharpening of his reflexes.
  • She brushed the pencil sharpenings into the bin.
  • Pencil sharpenings collected beneath the classroom sharpener.
  • The sharpening stone was worn out.
  • He bought a sharpening kit for his tools.
  • He is sharpening his coding skills.

View all translations of sharpening

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:aiguisage, aiguisant, ...
  2. German:Schärfen, schärfend, ...
  3. Italian:affilatura, affilante, ...
  4. Spanish:afilado, afilador, ...
  5. Portuguese:afiação, aguçador, ...
  6. Chinese:打磨, 磨利的, ...
  7. Japanese:研ぎ, スキル向上, ...
  8. Arabic:شَحْذ, مُحَدِّد, ...
  9. Hebrew:הַשְׁחָזָה, מַשְׁחִיז, ...
  10. Russian:заточка, затачивающий, ...
  11. Ukrainian:загострення, заточувальний, ...
  12. Hindi:घिसाई, तेज़ करने वाला, ...
sharpen
ˈʃɑːrpən

Definition of sharpen - Reverso English Dictionary

Verb

tr./intr.
1.
toolsmake an object sharp or pointed
  • He sharpened the knife before cooking.
edge grind hone
2.
conflictintensify differences or disagreements
  • The debate sharpened the differences between the candidates.
escalate heighten intensify
3.
figurativeenhance or improve clarity
  • The debate helped to sharpen his argument..
enhance hone improve
4.
skillstr.improve skills or sensestr.
  • Reading regularly can sharpen your mind.
enhance hone refine
5.
musictr.TECH.raise the pitch of a musical notetr.TECH.
  • She sharpened the note to match the tune.
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Expressions with sharpen

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
make claws sharper by rubbing against a surface
The cat likes to sharpen claws on the tree.
make claws sharper by rubbing against a surface
The cat sharpened its claws on the scratching post.
make an object sharper
She sharpened up the kitchen knives.
prepare to work harder or more efficiently
It's time to sharpen your pencil and finish the project.
make your mind more alert and quick
He played chess to sharpen his wits before the exam.
make mental abilities sharper or more acute
She plays chess to sharpen wits.

Origin of sharpen

Old English, scearp (sharp) + -en (to make)

Examples of sharpen in a sentence

  • The gardener sharpened the shears for pruning.
  • The crisis sharpened the divisions within the community.
  • Her comments only served to sharpen the existing tensions.
  • Reading extensively can sharpen your critical thinking skills.
  • The workshop aims to sharpen participants' problem-solving abilities.
  • Practicing daily will sharpen your skills.

View all translations of sharpen

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:aiguiser, accentuer, ...
  2. German:schärfen, verschärfen, ...
  3. Italian:affilare, acutizzare, ...
  4. Spanish:afilar, intensificar, ...
  5. Portuguese:afiar, acentuar, ...
  6. Chinese:磨, 加剧, ...
  7. Japanese:研ぐ, 際立たせる, ...
  8. Arabic:حَدَّدَ, يُعَمِّق, ...
  9. Hebrew:לְחַדֵּד, לְהַחְרִיף, ...
  10. Russian:точить, заострить, ...
  11. Ukrainian:нагострити, загострювати, ...
  12. Hindi:तेज करना, तीव्र करना, ...
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