sharp

[[t]ʃɑrp[/t]]

adj. sharp•er, sharp•est, v. adv. n.

1) having a thin cutting edge or a fine point; well-adapted for cutting or piercing:

a sharp knife[/ex]

2) terminating in an edge or point; not blunt or rounded:

sharp corners[/ex]

3) involving an abrupt change in direction or course:

a sharp curve in the road[/ex]

4) clearly defined; distinct:

a sharp contrast[/ex]

5) pungent or biting in taste:

a sharp cheese[/ex]

6) piercing or shrill in sound:

a sharp cry[/ex]

7) keenly cold, as weather:

a sharp, biting wind[/ex]

8) felt acutely; intense:

sharp pain[/ex]

9) merciless, caustic, or harsh:

sharp words[/ex]

10) alert or vigilant:

a sharp watch[/ex]

11) mentally acute:

a sharp lad[/ex]

12) cvb extremely sensitive; keen

13) shrewd or astute:

a sharp bargainer[/ex]

14) shrewd to the point of dishonesty:

sharp practice[/ex]

15) mus

a) (of a tone) raised a chromatic half step in pitch:

F sharp[/ex]

b) above an intended pitch, as a note; too high

(opposed to flat I).

16) Informal. very stylish:

a sharp dresser[/ex]

17) mus to raise in pitch, esp. by one chromatic half step

18) mus to sound above the true pitch

19) keenly or acutely

20) abruptly or suddenly

21) punctually:

Meet me at one o'clock sharp[/ex]

22) mus above the true pitch

23) clo Usu., sharps. a medium-length, all-purpose sewing needle with a sharp point

24) sharper

25) Informal. an expert

26) mus

a) a tone one chromatic half step above a given tone

b) (in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this

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Etymology: bef. 900; (adj.) ME; OE scearp, c. OFris, OSskarp, OHG skar(p) f, ONskarpr sharp′ly, adv. sharp′ness, n. syn: sharp, keen, intelligent, quick may all be applied to mental qualities and abilities. sharp means mentally alert or acute; it implies a clever and astute quality: a sharp mind. keen suggests an incisive, observant, or penetrating nature: a keen observer. intelligent means not only acute, alert, and active, but also able to reason and understand: an intelligent reader. quick suggests lively and rapid comprehension, prompt response to instruction, and the like: quick at figures.