sharpen

verb

USSHAR-puhn/ˈʃɑɹpən/UKSHAH-puhn/ˈʃɑːpən/

Formssharpens, sharpening, sharpened

2 meanings of sharpen

1
verbfigurativelytransitive
To make something sharp or sharper, such as a blade or a pencil point, or, figuratively, a skill or a feeling.
The chef sharpens his knives on a whetstone every morning.
Daily practice against stronger players will sharpen your chess skills.
Similarhone, whet, improve, refine
Oppositedull, blunt
Note
The verb is simply sharp plus -en, and it follows the adjective wherever it goes. A knife or pencil gets a finer edge or point; in music, a note is sharpened when it is raised in pitch; figuratively, practice sharpens a skill and fresh news sharpens a worry. Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) credits the opponent who wrestles with us for sharpening our skill.
2
verbintransitive
To become sharp or sharper, as when a conflict or a feeling grows more intense.
As the deadline neared, the tension in the office began to sharpen.
Fighting between the two factions sharpened through the winter.
Similarintensify, heighten, increase, deepen
Oppositeease, subside

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Origin

From Middle English scharpenen or scharpnen, equivalent to sharp + -en.