sharpen

views updated

sharp·en / ˈshärpən/ • v. make or become sharp: [tr.] she sharpened her pencil | [intr.] her tone sharpened to exasperation. ∎  improve or cause to improve: [intr.] they must sharpen up or risk losing half their business | [tr.] students will sharpen up their reading skills. DERIVATIVES: shar·pen·er n.

More From encyclopedia.com