sharp

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scearp; akin to Old High German scarf sharp and perhaps to Old English scrapian to scrape — more at scrape Date: before 12th century 1. adapted to cutting or piercing: as a. having a thin keen edge or fine point b. briskly or bitingly cold ; nipping <

a sharp wind

> 2. a. keen in intellect ; quick-witted b. keen in perception ; acute <

sharp sight

> c. keen in attention ; vigilant <

keep a sharp lookout

> d. keen in attention to one's own interest sometimes to the point of being unethical <

a sharp trader

>; also corrupt, unethical <

sharp business practices

> 3. keen in spirit or action: as a. full of activity or energy ; brisk <

sharp blows

> b. capable of acting or reacting strongly; especially caustic 4. severe, harsh: as a. inclined to or marked by irritability or anger <

a sharp temper

> b. causing intense mental or physical distress <

a sharp pain

> c. cutting in language or import <

a sharp rebuke

> 5. affecting the senses or sense organs intensely: as a. (1) having a strong odor or flavor <

sharp cheese

> (2) acrid b. having a strong piercing sound c. having the effect of or involving a sudden brilliant display of light <

a sharp flash

> 6. a. terminating in a point or edge <

sharp features

> b. involving an abrupt or marked change especially in direction <

a sharp turn

> c. clear in outline or detail ; distinct <

a sharp image

> d. set forth with clarity and distinctness <

sharp contrast

> 7. a. of a tone raised a half step in pitch b. higher than the proper pitch c. major, augmented — used of an interval in music 8. stylish, dressy • sharply adverb • sharpness noun Synonyms: sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding. sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness <

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

>. keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind <

a keen observer of the political scene

>. acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination <

an acute sense of style

>. II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. in a sharp manner 2. exactly <

1:15 sharp

> III. noun Date: 14th century one that is sharp: as a. a sharp edge or point b. (1) a musical note or tone one half step higher than a note or tone named (2) a character ♯ on a line or space of the musical staff indicating a pitch a half step higher than the degree would indicate without it c. a needle with a small eye for sewing by hand d. a real or self-proclaimed expert; also sharper IV. verb Date: 1662 transitive verb to raise (as a musical tone) in pitch; especially to raise in pitch by a half step intransitive verb to sing or play above the proper pitch