sharpsharp1 /ʃɑrp/ ●●● S3 W3 adjective 1
THIN EDGE/POINT having a very thin edge or point, especially one that can cut things easily OPP blunt: sharp pencils Make sure the knife is sharp. Cut the end of the stick into a sharp point. The blade has a razor-sharp (=very sharp) edge.2increase/decrease a sharp increase, fall, etc. is very sudden and very big SYN steep: a sharp rise in prices a sharp decline in unemployment sharp cuts in welfare benefits► see thesaurus at sudden3TURN a sharp turn or bend changes direction suddenly: We came to a sharp turn in the road. a sharp angle4INTELLIGENT able to think and understand things very quickly, and not easily deceived OPP dull, stupid: a sharp young attorney My great-aunt Nellie is 87, but she’s still as sharp as a tack (=able to think very quickly and clearly).► see thesaurus at intelligent5CRITICISM speaking in a way that shows you disapprove of something or are angry about it OPP mild: the sharp tone of her comments The proposed tax increase drew sharp criticism from Republican senators. His mother has a very sharp tongue (=she speaks in a very disapproving way).6clear/definite clear and definite, so that there is no doubt and something is very easy to notice: There are no sharp differences between the two political parties. The accident brought problems at the factory into sharp focus. His happy mood was in sharp contrast to the rest of the family’s gloom.7PAIN sudden and severe, but not continuing for a long time OPP dull: I felt a sharp pain in my back.8feelings [only before noun] a sharp feeling is a sudden unhappy or bad feeling, such as sadness: He felt a sharp stab of guilt. a sharp sense of disappointment9GOOD AT NOTICING THINGS able to see, hear, or notice things that are hard to see, hear, or notice: My son, with his sharp eyes, noticed the animal first. The job requires someone with a sharp eye for detail (=the ability to notice and deal with details).10keep a sharp eye out for something to watch carefully so that you do not miss something: We ought to keep a sharp eye out for animal tracks.11keep a sharp eye on somebody to watch someone very carefully, especially because you do not trust him or her: Security guards kept a sharp eye on Mattson as he walked through the store.12CLOTHES attractive and stylish: lawyers in sharp suits13SHAPE not rounded or curved SYN angular: her sharp features14SOUNDS loud, short, and sudden: a sharp cry of pain► see thesaurus at high115TASTE having a strong slightly bitter taste: sharp cheddar cheese16IMAGE/PICTURE if an image or picture is sharp, you can see all the details very clearly OPP fuzzy: This TV set gives you a very sharp picture.17MOVEMENT quick and sudden: The wind blew across the lake in sharp gusts. a sharp intake of breath18MUSIC eng. lang. arts a)F/D/C etc. sharp a musical note that is sharp has been raised by one half step from the note F, D, C, etc. and is shown by the sign (#) b)if music or singing is sharp, it is played or sung at a slightly higher pitch than it should be19weather a sharp wind or frost is very cold[Origin: Old English scearp]—sharpness noun [uncountable] → see also sharply
THIN EDGE/POINT having a very thin edge or point, especially one that can cut things easily OPP blunt: sharp pencils Make sure the knife is sharp. Cut the end of the stick into a sharp point. The blade has a razor-sharp (=very sharp) edge.2increase/decrease a sharp increase, fall, etc. is very sudden and very big SYN steep: a sharp rise in prices a sharp decline in unemployment sharp cuts in welfare benefits► see thesaurus at sudden3TURN a sharp turn or bend changes direction suddenly: We came to a sharp turn in the road. a sharp angle4INTELLIGENT able to think and understand things very quickly, and not easily deceived OPP dull, stupid: a sharp young attorney My great-aunt Nellie is 87, but she’s still as sharp as a tack (=able to think very quickly and clearly).► see thesaurus at intelligent5CRITICISM speaking in a way that shows you disapprove of something or are angry about it OPP mild: the sharp tone of her comments The proposed tax increase drew sharp criticism from Republican senators. His mother has a very sharp tongue (=she speaks in a very disapproving way).6clear/definite clear and definite, so that there is no doubt and something is very easy to notice: There are no sharp differences between the two political parties. The accident brought problems at the factory into sharp focus. His happy mood was in sharp contrast to the rest of the family’s gloom.7PAIN sudden and severe, but not continuing for a long time OPP dull: I felt a sharp pain in my back.8feelings [only before noun] a sharp feeling is a sudden unhappy or bad feeling, such as sadness: He felt a sharp stab of guilt. a sharp sense of disappointment9GOOD AT NOTICING THINGS able to see, hear, or notice things that are hard to see, hear, or notice: My son, with his sharp eyes, noticed the animal first. The job requires someone with a sharp eye for detail (=the ability to notice and deal with details).10keep a sharp eye out for something to watch carefully so that you do not miss something: We ought to keep a sharp eye out for animal tracks.11keep a sharp eye on somebody to watch someone very carefully, especially because you do not trust him or her: Security guards kept a sharp eye on Mattson as he walked through the store.12CLOTHES attractive and stylish: lawyers in sharp suits13SHAPE not rounded or curved SYN angular: her sharp features14SOUNDS loud, short, and sudden: a sharp cry of pain► see thesaurus at high115TASTE having a strong slightly bitter taste: sharp cheddar cheese16IMAGE/PICTURE if an image or picture is sharp, you can see all the details very clearly OPP fuzzy: This TV set gives you a very sharp picture.17MOVEMENT quick and sudden: The wind blew across the lake in sharp gusts. a sharp intake of breath18MUSIC eng. lang. arts a)F/D/C etc. sharp a musical note that is sharp has been raised by one half step from the note F, D, C, etc. and is shown by the sign (#) b)if music or singing is sharp, it is played or sung at a slightly higher pitch than it should be19weather a sharp wind or frost is very cold[Origin: Old English scearp]—sharpness noun [uncountable] → see also sharply