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to sharpen
01
to make an object pointed or sharper
Transitive: to sharpen a pointed object
Examples
Before slicing the vegetables, she took a moment to sharpen the kitchen knife for better precision.
Before sketching, she sharpened the pencil to create finer lines and details.
02
to become more pointed or sharper
Intransitive
Examples
Over time, the chef 's knife blade began to sharpen with each honing.
With regular use, the pencil 's tip sharpened, ensuring clean and precise lines in the artwork.
03
to increase the clarity and definition of details in a picture
Transitive: to sharpen details in a picture
Examples
The photographer used post-processing techniques to sharpen the edges and enhance the details of the photograph.
In the darkroom, the photographer used special techniques to sharpen areas of interest in the black-and-white print.
04
to increase the pitch of a note, usually by a semitone
Transitive: to sharpen a musical note
Examples
The violinist carefully sharpened the notes in the solo passage to add brightness and clarity to the melody.
The composer used a chromatic scale with many sharpened notes to create a haunting melody.
05
(of sensory and intellectual perception) to enhance or intensify
Intransitive
Examples
As the conversation progressed, his wit and intellect seemed to sharpen.
As the climber ascended the mountain, her senses sharpened, attuning her to the nuances of the terrain and weather.
06
to accentuate certain frequencies or elements in a sound
Transitive: to sharpen a sound
Examples
The audio engineer sharpened the vocals in the mix to make the singer's voice stand out against the instrumentation.
Using equalization, she sharpened the high frequencies in the guitar track.
Lexical Tree
sharpened
sharpener
sharpen
