sharpen

A verb used to indicate the act of making something sharp or sharper, or improving a skill or ability.

ruГлагол, используемый для обозначения действия по затачиванию чего-либо или улучшению навыка или способности.esVerbo que se usa para indicar la acción de afilar algo o de mejorar una habilidad o capacidad.frVerbe utilisé pour désigner l'action d'affûter ou d'aiguiser un objet, ou d'améliorer une compétence ou une capacité.deVerb, das das Schärfen von etwas (z. B. einer Klinge) oder die Verbesserung einer Fähigkeit oder Fertigkeit bezeichnet.ptVerbo usado para indicar a ação de afiar algo ou de melhorar uma habilidade ou capacidade.zh动词，指把某物磨得锋利，也指改进或提高技能、能力。arفعل يُستخدم للدلالة على شحذ شيء ما أو جعله حادًّا، وكذلك على تحسين مهارة أو قدرة وصقلها.

1. Make sharp or sharper A2 formal

   To make the edge or point of something more acute or keen.

   • He sharpened the kitchen knife before cutting the vegetables.
   • She sharpened her pencil with a small sharpener.
   • The barber sharpens his razors every morning.

   ruЗаточитьesAfilarfrAiguiserdeSchärfenptAfiarzh磨快arشَحْذ

   Sinónimos: acuminateedgefilegrindhonewhet

   Antónimos: bluntdull

2. Make crisp or more precise B2 formal

   To make something clearer, more distinct, or more exact.

   • The editor sharpened the article's focus.
   • She sharpened her argument with new evidence.
   • The training helped sharpen his analytical skills.

   ruУточнитьesPrecisar, afinarfrRendre plus précisdePräzisierenptTornar mais precisozh明确arتوضيح الدلالة

   Sinónimos: clarifyenhancefocushoneimprovepolishrefinetighten

   Antónimos: blurcloudfuzzmuddleobscure

3. Become sharp or sharper B1 formal

   To become more acute or keen in quality or sensation.

   • His reflexes sharpened after months of practice.
   • The cold air sharpened her senses.
   • As the deadline approached, his focus sharpened.

   ruОбостритьсяesvolverse más agudofrdevenir plus aigu/plus netdeSich verschärfenptAguçar-sezh变敏锐arيَتَوَقَّد

   Sinónimos: heightenintensifyquicken

   Antónimos: bluntdull

4. Put an image into focus B1 formal

   To adjust an optical device so that the image becomes clear and distinct.

   • He sharpened the image using the camera's manual focus.
   • The photographer sharpened the picture in post-processing.
   • She sharpened the microscope's lens to see the cells clearly.

   ruНастроить резкостьesEnfocar una imagenfrMettre au point une imagedeSchärfe einstellenptAjustar a nitidezzh调焦arضبط حدة الصورة

   Sinónimos: focus

   Antónimos: blur

5. Make images or sounds sharp or sharper B2 formal

   To enhance the clarity or definition of visual or auditory signals.

   • The software can sharpen blurry photos.
   • He sharpened the audio track to reduce background noise.
   • The technician sharpened the video signal for better quality.

   ruУлучшить четкостьesAfilar (imágenes o sonidos)frAméliorer la nettetédeBild- oder Tonqualität schärfenptAumentar a nitidezzh提高清晰度arتحسين الوضوح

   Sinónimos: accentuateclarifyenhancefocusheightenintensifyrefine

   Antónimos: blurdullfuzzmufflesoften

6. Raise the pitch of musical notes B2 formal

   To increase the frequency of a musical note, making it higher in pitch.

   • The musician sharpened the note by adjusting the tuning peg.
   • She sharpened the melody to create a more dramatic effect.
   • The composer instructed the violinist to sharpen the final chord.

   ruПовысить высоту звукаesSostener (subir la entonación)frhausser d'un demi-tondeTonhöhe erhöhenptElevar a altura da notazh提高音高arرفع حدة النغمة الموسيقية

   Sinónimos: raisesharp

   Antónimos: flattenlower

7. Give a point to A2 formal

   To make something pointed or tapered at the end.

   • He sharpened the stick to use as a tent peg.
   • She sharpened the end of the dowel for the craft project.
   • The artist sharpened the charcoal stick for fine lines.

   ruЗаостритьessacar puntafrrendre pointudeZuspitzenptApontarzh削尖arشحذ

   Sinónimos: acuminatepointtaper

   Antónimos: bluntdull

8. Make one's senses more acute B2 formal

   To heighten or refine one's perception or awareness.

   • Meditation helps sharpen your mental focus.
   • The intense training sharpened his instincts.
   • She sharpened her hearing by practicing in noisy environments.

   ruОбострятьesagudizar los sentidosfrAiguiser ses sensdeSinne schärfenptAguçarzh使敏锐arشَحْذ الحواس

   Sinónimos: enhanceheightenhoneintensifyquickenrefinewhet

   Antónimos: bluntdull

• sharpened past participle
• sharpened past simple
• sharpening present participle
• sharpens third person singular