Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sharp
Sharp
,Adj.
[
Com
par.
Sharper
; sup
erl.
Sharpest
.] 1.
Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
He dies upon my scimeter’s
sharp
point. Shakespeare
2.
Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged;
as, a
sharp
hill; sharp
features.3.
Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash.
4.
(Mus.)
(a)
High in pitch; acute;
as, a
. sharp
note or tone(b)
Raised a semitone in pitch;
as, C
. sharp
(C♯), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C(c)
So high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch;
as, the tone is
. Opposed in all these senses to sharp
; that instrument is sharp
flat
. 5.
Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing;
as,
. sharp
pain, weather; a sharp
and frosty airSharp
misery had worn him to the bones. Shakespeare
The morning
sharp
and clear. Cowper.
In
sharpest
perils faithful proved. Keble.
6.
Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe;
“That sharp look.” as, a
. sharp
rebukeTennyson.
To that place the
Can not pursue us.
sharp
Athenian lawCan not pursue us.
Shakespeare
Be thy words severe,
Sharp
as merits but the sword forbear. Dryden.
7.
Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever;
as, a
. sharp
eye; sharp
sight, hearing, or judgmentNothing makes men
sharper
. . . than want. Addison.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the
sharpest
philosophers have never ye[GREEK] arrived at clear and distinct ideas. L. Watts.
8.
Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen;
as, a
. sharp
appetite9.
Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
“In sharp contest of battle.” Milton.
A
sharp
assault already is begun. Dryden.
10.
Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd;
as, a
sharp
dealer; a sharp
customer.The necessity of being so
sharp
and exacting. Swift.
11.
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty;
as,
. sharp
sandMoxon.
12.
Steep; precipitous; abrupt;
as, a
. sharp
ascent or descent; a sharp
turn or curve13.
(Phonetics)
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated.
☞ Sharp is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sharp-cornered, sharp-edged, sharp-pointed, sharp-tasted, sharp-visaged, etc.
Sharp practice
, the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient.
– To brace sharp
, or
To sharp up
(Naut.)
, to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind.
Syn. – Keen; acute; piercing; penetrating; quick; sagacious; discerning; shrewd; witty; ingenious; sour; acid; tart; pungent; acrid; severe; poignant; biting; acrimonious; sarcastic; cutting; bitter; painful; afflictive; violent; harsh; fierce; ardent; fiery.
Sharp
,adv.
1.
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
M. Arnold.
The head [of a spear] full
sharp
yground. Chaucer.
You bite so
sharp
at reasons. Shakespeare
2.
Precisely; exactly;
as, we shall start at ten o'clock
. sharp
[Colloq.]
Look sharp
, attend; be alert.
[Colloq.]
Sharp
,Noun.
1.
A sharp tool or weapon.
[Obs.]
If butchers had but the manners to go to
sharps
, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs. Collier.
2.
(Mus.)
(a)
The character [♯] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch.
(b)
A sharp tone or note.
Shak.
3.
A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
[Prov. Eng.]
C. Kingsley.
4.
A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps.
6.
An expert.
[Slang]
Sharp
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sharped
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sharping
.] 1.
To sharpen.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
2.
(Mus.)
To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone.
Sharp
,Verb.
I.
1.
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
L'Estrange.
2.
(Mus.)
To sing above the proper pitch.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sharp
SH'ARP
, a. 1. Having a very thin edge or a fine point; keen; acute; not blunt. Thus we may say, a sharp knife, or a sharp needle. A sharp edge easily severs a substance; a sharp point is easily made to penetrate,it.
2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse; as, a hills terminates in a sharp peak, or a sharp ridge.
3. Forming an acute or too small angle at the ridge; as a sharp roof.
4. Acute of mind; quick to discern or distinguish; penetrating; ready at invention; witty; ingenious.
Nothing makes men sharper than want. Addison.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have not yet obtained clear ideas. Watts.
5. Being of quick or nice perception; applied to the senses or organs of perception; as a sharp eye; sharp sight.
6. Affecting the organs of taste like fine points; piercing; penetrating; shrill; as sharp vinegar; sharp tasted citrons.
7. Affecting the organs of hearing like sharp points; poercing; penetrating; shrill; as a sharp sound or voice; a sharp not or tone; opposed to a flat note or sound.
8. Severe; harsh; biting; sarcastic; as sharp words; sharp rebuke.
-Be thy words severe,