Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sharp?

\Sharp\, a. [Compar. {Sharper}; superl. {Sharpest}.] [OE. sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G. scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. {Escarp}, {Scrape}, {Scorpion}.] 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. --Shak. 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[sharp]), 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 sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to {flat}. 5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air. Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. --Shak. The morning sharp and clear. --Cowper. In sharpest perils faithful proved. --Keble. 6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. ``That sharp look.'' --Tennyson. To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us. --Shak. 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 judgment. Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want. --Addison. Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye? arrived at clear and distinct ideas. --L. Watts. 8. Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite. 9. 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 sand. --Moxon. 12. Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve. 13. (Phonetics) Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated. Note: 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. --Shak. 2. Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp. [Colloq.] {Look sharp}, attend; be alert. [Colloq.]
\Sharp\, n. 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 [[sharp]] 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. 5. pl. Same as {Middlings}, 1. 6. An expert. [Slang]
\Sharp\, v. 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\, v. i. 1. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper. --L'Estrange. 2. (Mus.) To sing above the proper pitch.