sharpen

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Pronunciation

• (GA) IPA: /ˈʃɑɹpɨn/

Verb

sharpen (sharpens, present participle sharpening; past and past participle sharpened)

1. (transitive, sometimes, figurative) To make sharp.

   to sharpen a pencil or a knife

   • He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill.

2. (intransitive) To become sharp.

Synonyms

• hone (figurative sense)
• whet

Antonyms

• blunt
• blur

Translations

• French: affiler, affûter, aiguiser
• German: schärfen (blade), spitzen (pencil)
• Italian: arrotare, affilare, molare, affinare
• Portuguese: afiar (of a blade), apontar (of a point)
• Russian: точи́ть
• Spanish: afilar

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