sharpen

verb

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

Formssharpens, sharpening, sharpened

2 meanings of sharpen

1
verbfigurativelytransitive
To make something sharp, like a knife or a pencil, or to make a skill better.
I need to sharpen my pencil before the test.
Reading every day sharpened her spelling.
Similarhone, whet, improve, refine
Oppositedull, blunt
Note
2
verbintransitive
To become sharper, or to get stronger and more intense.
Her voice sharpened when she saw the mess.
The picture will sharpen once the camera finds its focus.
Similarintensify, heighten, increase, deepen
Oppositeease, subside

Practice

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Origin

From the word sharp with the ending -en.