sharp

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English scharp, from Old English sċearp, from Proto-West Germanic *skarp, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-, from *(s)ker- (“to cut”). Cognate with West Frisian skerp, Low German scherp, scharp, schaarp, Dutch scherp, German scharf, Danish skarp. Compare Irish cearb (“keen; cutting”), Latin acerbus (“tart, bitter”), Tocharian B kärpye (“rough”), Latvian skârbs (“sharp, rough”), Russian щерба (ščerba, “notch”), Polish szczerba (“gap, dent, jag, chip, nick, notch”), Albanian harb (“rudeness”). More at shear. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, Standard Southern British) IPA(key): /ʃɑːp/ (General American) IPA(key): /ʃɑɹp/ (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ʃɐːp/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ʃaɾp/ Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)p === Adjective === sharp (comparative sharper, superlative sharpest) Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded. (colloquial) Intelligent. (music) Raised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ⟨♯⟩ after the name of the note). (music) Higher in pitch than required. Having a strong acrid or acidic taste. Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid. (colloquial) Illegal or dishonest. (colloquial) Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest. Exact, precise, accurate; keen. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious; stern or harsh. (colloquial) Stylish, smart or attractive. Observant; alert; acute. Quick and alert. Strongly distinguishing or differentiating; acute. Forming a small or tight angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees. Steep; precipitous; abrupt. (mathematics, of a statement) Said of as extreme a value as possible. (chess) Tactical; risky. Piercing; keen; severe; painful. Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification. (obsolete) Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty. (phonetics, dated) Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced. (obsolete) Hungry. ==== Synonyms ==== (able to cut easily): keen, razor, razor-sharp (intelligent): brainy, bright, intelligent, keen, smart, witty (able to pierce easily): pointed (having an intense and acrid flavour): acrid, pungent (sudden and intense): abrupt, acute, stabbing (illegal, dishonest): dishonest, dodgy, illegal, illicit, underhand (accurate): accurate, exact, keen, precise (critical): acrimonious, bitter, cutting, harsh, hostile, nasty (stylish, attractive): chic, elegant, smart, stylish (observant): acute, alert, keen, observant, sharp-eyed ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “able to cut easily”): blunt, dull (antonym(s) of “intelligent”): dim, dim-witted, slow, slow-witted, thick (antonym(s) of “able to pierce easily”): blunt (antonym(s) of “raised by one semitone”): flat (antonym(s) of “music: higher in pitch than required”): flat (antonym(s) of “having an intense and acrid flavour”): bland, insipid, tasteless (antonym(s) of “sudden and intense”): dull (antonym(s) of “illegal, dishonest”): above-board, honest, legit, legitimate, reputable (antonym(s) of “accurate”): inaccurate, imprecise (antonym(s) of “critical”): complimentary, flattering, friendly, kind, nice (antonym(s) of “stylish, attractive”): inelegant, scruffy, shabby (antonym(s) of “observant”): unobservant ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === sharp (comparative sharper, superlative sharpest) In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses. To a point or edge. Piercingly. Eagerly. So as to make a sharp, or tight, angle. South of the city the river turns sharp to the east. sharp left, sharp right (of times of day, not comparable) Exactly. (music) In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable. 1867, Dutton Cook, Hobson's Choice, Chapter 8, “Music Hath Charms”, p. 72 [3] Whereas Matilda Milner frequently sang sharp, in spite of the efforts of Miss Brown, who played the accompaniment, to give her the right note and keep her in tune. ==== Synonyms ==== (exactly): exactly, on the dot (of time), precisely; see also Thesaurus:exactly ==== Derived terms ==== brace sharp look sharp ==== Translations ==== === Noun === sharp (plural sharps) (music) The symbol ⟨♯⟩, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played one chromatic semitone higher. (music) A note that is played one chromatic semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ⟨♯⟩. (music) A note that is sharp in a particular key. (music) The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic. (usually in the plural) Something that is sharp. (medicine) A hypodermic syringe. (medicine, dated) A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery. (psychiatry, healthcare) A sharp object; any item pointed enough to injure human skin. A dishonest person; a cheater. This usage is often classified as a variant spelling of shark, and unrelated to the 'pointed' or 'cutting' meanings of sharp. Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly. A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between. (in the plural) Fine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings. (slang, dated) An expert. A sharpie (member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s). Alternative form of sharpie (“type of fishing boat”). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== (music) accidental, flat, natural ♯ === Verb === sharp (third-person singular simple present sharps, present participle sharping, simple past and past participle sharped) (music) To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper. (transitive, obsolete) To sharpen. ==== Translations ==== === See also === sharp-sharp === References === “sharp”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “sharp”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === Sphar, shrap, Spahr, harps, Harps, PHASR, PHRAs