- (v.t.) To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step or semitone, above the natural tone.
- (superl.) Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve.
- (v.t.) To sharpen.
- (superl.) Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke.
- (n.) A sharp tone or note.
- (superl.) 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.
- (n.) A sharp tool or weapon.
- (n.) The character [/] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step or semitone, in pitch.
- (superl.) Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
- (superl.) Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
- (adv.) To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
- (superl.) Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air.
- (superl.) High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone.
- (n.) Same as Middlings, 1.
- (superl.) Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
- (superl.) Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C/), which is a half step or semitone, higher than C.
- (superl.) Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
- (superl.) Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing or judgment.
- (superl.) Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
- (v.i.) To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
- (superl.) Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer.
- (v.i.) To sing above the proper pitch.
- (adv.) Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp.
- (n.) An expert.
- (superl.) Uttered in a whisper or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated.
- (n.) A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps.
- (n.) A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
- (superl.) 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.
Sharp and Ringing
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
noun
- A musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named.
- A long thin sewing needle with a sharp point.
adjective
- Of something seen or heard. ( clearly defined)
- usage: "a sharp photographic image"; "the sharp crack of a twig"; "the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot"
- synonyms: crisp
- Ending in a sharp point.
- synonyms: acuate, acute, needlelike
- Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions.
- usage: "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
- synonyms: acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing
- Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence.
- usage: "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"
- Harsh.
- usage: "sharp criticism"; "a sharp-worded exchange"; "a tart remark"
- synonyms: sharp-worded, tart
- Having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones .
- usage: "a shrill whistle"; "a shrill gaiety"
- synonyms: shrill
- Extremely steep.
- usage: "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop"
- synonyms: abrupt, precipitous
- Keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point.
- usage: "a sharp pain"; "sharp winds"
- Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing.
- usage: "a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point"
- Of a musical note. ( raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone)
- usage: "C sharp"
- Very sudden and in great amount or degree.
- usage: "a sharp drop in the stock market"
- Quick and forceful.
- usage: "a sharp blow"
adverb
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
noun
- The sound of a bell ringing."the distinctive ring of the church bell"; "the ringing of the telephone"; "the tintinnabulation that so voluminously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells-E. A. Poe
- synonyms: ring, tintinnabulation
- The giving of a ring as a token of engagement.
- Having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant.
- synonyms: plangency, resonance, reverberance, sonorousness, sonority, vibrancy
verb
- Sound loudly and sonorously.
- usage: "the bells rang"
- Ring or echo with sound.
- usage: "the hall resounded with laughter"
- synonyms: resound, echo, ring, reverberate
- Make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification.
- usage: "Ring the bells"; "My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church"
- Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone.
- usage: "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning"
- Extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle.
- usage: "The forest surrounds my property"
- Attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify.
- usage: "ring birds"; "band the geese to observe their migratory patterns"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University