Word: sharp Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English scharp, from Old English sċearp, from Proto-West Germanic *skarp, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-, from *(s)ker- (“to cut”). Cognate with West Frisian skerp, Low German scherp, scharp, schaarp, Dutch scherp, German scharf, Danish skarp. Compare Irish cearb (“keen; cutting”), Latin acerbus (“tart, bitter”), Tocharian B kärpye (“rough”), Latvian skârbs (“sharp, rough”), Russian щерба (ščerba, “notch”), Polish szczerba (“gap, dent, jag, chip, nick, notch”), Albanian harb (“rudeness”). More at shear. Pronunciation: /ʃɑːp/, /ʃɑɹp/, /ʃɐːp/, /ʃaɾp/ 1. Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded. Example: I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving. Example: Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it. 2. Intelligent. Labels: colloquial Example: My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old. Example: At school, despite his sharp mind, Malcolm was laughed at by teachers when he said he wanted to be a lawyer. 3. Raised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ⟨♯⟩ after the name of the note). 4. Higher in pitch than required. Example: The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone. 5. Having a strong acrid or acidic taste. Example: Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated. Example: This grapefruit is especially sharp. 6. Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid. Example: A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions. Example: The man turned and made a sharp movement towards the door. 7. Illegal or dishonest. Labels: colloquial Example: Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books. 8. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest. Labels: colloquial Example: a sharp dealer, a sharp customer, sharp practice Example: But, as they have hitherto stood, a clergyman established in a competent living is not under the necessity of being so sharp, vigilant, and exacting. 9. Exact, precise, accurate; keen. Example: You'll need sharp aim to make that shot. Example: Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale. 10. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious; stern or harsh. Example: sharp criticism Example: When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out. 11. Stylish, smart or attractive. Labels: colloquial Example: You look so sharp in that tuxedo! Example: A sharp dresser partial to snakeskin shoes whose miniature Australian shepherd dog Saatchi is a constant fixture on family outings, [Donald] Tang's next move was to reinvent himself as a dealmaker connecting China with Hollywood amid growing demand for entertainment content in both countries. 12. Observant; alert; acute. Example: Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape! 13. Quick and alert. Example: Jones, the centre forward, made a sharp start to the game. 14. Strongly distinguishing or differentiating; acute. Example: a sharp contrast, a sharp distinction 15. Forming a small or tight angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees. Example: Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine. Example: a sharp turn or curve 16. Steep; precipitous; abrupt. Example: a sharp ascent or descent 17. Said of as extreme a value as possible. Example: Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number. 18. Tactical; risky. Example: Time and time again, the amateur player has lost the opportunity to make the really best move because he felt bound to follow some chess "rule" he had learned, rather than to make the sharp move which was indicated by the position. Example: In such situations most chess players choose the obvious and logical way: they go in for sharp play. However, not everyone is a natural attacking player[…] 19. Piercing; keen; severe; painful. Example: a sharp pain; the sharp and frosty winter air Example: Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. 20. Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification. Example: a sharp appetite 21. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. Labels: obsolete Example: And fear of God, from whom their piety feign'd In sharp contest of battle found no aid Against invaders Example: A sharp assault already is begun; 22. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty. Example: Well-burnt good lime and sharp sand, if very sharp, a load of sand (about 36 bushels) to a hundred of lime (being 25 bushels, or a hundred pecks[…] 23. Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced. Labels: dated 24. Hungry. Labels: obsolete Example: “[W]hy this last week we ha'n't had nothing at all but some dry musty red herrings; so you may think, Miss, we're kept pretty sharp!” Example: “[…] It’s child’s play to find the stuff now. I’ve half a mind to dine first.” “I don’t feel sharp,” growled Morgan.