sharpener

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈʃɑː(ɹ)pənə(ɹ)/

Noun

sharpener (plural sharpeners)

1. A device for making things sharp.

   There was a pencil sharpener at the front of the classroom.

2. (figurative) That which makes something sharp.
   • , The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain

     “Sir,” said the shepherd, “poverty is a great sharpener of the wits. […]

   • 1872, Chambers's miscellany of instructive & entertaining tracts

     The snuff-box, knife, and chicken-bones were again in requisition, and a pen was successfully formed. The ink, or at least its substitute, was rather more difficult, but necessity is always a sharpener of intellect, and even this was accomplished.

3. (informal) An alcoholic drink taken at the start of the day, or just before a meal.

Related terms

• sharp
• pencil sharpener

Translations

• French: affûteuse, aiguiseur
• German: Spitzer
• Italian: affilatrice
• Portuguese: apontador, amolador
• Spanish: sacapuntas

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