sharp
(noun, adjective, verb, adverb)
adjective
1. (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
- a sharp photographic image
- the sharp crack of a twig
Similar word(s): distinct, crisp
2. (of an object) having a sharp point.
Similar word(s): pointed, acuate, acute, needlelike
3. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
- as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
Similar word(s): perceptive, acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing
4. (of a person) intelligent, smart.
- My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.
- He is a sharp kid!
Similar word(s): smart, astute, shrewd
5. (of words) offensive, critical, or harsh.
- sharp criticism
- a sharp-worded exchange
Similar word(s): unpleasant, tart
6. (music) having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
7. extremely steep
- a sharp drop
Similar word(s): steep, abrupt, precipitous
8. (of feelings or experience) keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point
- a sharp pain
- sharp winds
Similar word(s): acute, intense, cutting, keen, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, piercing, stabbing, fulgurating, salt
9. having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing
- a sharp knife
- a pencil with a sharp point
Similar word(s): carnassial, edged, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, sharpened, pointed
10. (of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone
- C sharp
11. very sudden and in great amount or degree
- a sharp drop in the stock market
Similar word(s): sudden
12. quick and forceful
- a sharp blow
Similar word(s): forceful
13. (of a style or appearance) stylish or attractive.
- You look so sharp in that tuxedo!
14. exact, precise, accurate; keen.
- You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.
Sentences with sharp as an adjective:
- I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.
- Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.
- a sharp hill; a face with sharp features
- The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.
- Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.
- A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.
- Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.
- a sharp dealer; a sharp customer
- sharp criticism;
- Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!
- Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.
- a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve
- 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.
- a sharp pain; the sharp and frosty winter air
- a sharp appetite
adverb
1. changing suddenly in direction and degree
- the road twists sharply after the light
- turn sharp left here
Similar word(s): acutely, sharply
Sentences with sharp as an adverb:
- I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.
- I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes.
noun
1. a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
Definition categories: communication
2. a long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
Definition categories: man–made
Sentences with sharp as a noun:
- The pitch pipe sounded out a perfect F♯ (F sharp).
- Transposition frequently is harder to read because of all the sharps and flats on the staff.
- The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.
- Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in C♯ minor (C sharp minor.)
- Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.
- The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.
verb
1. (music) To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
- That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!
2. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.