Sharpest definition

Sharpest





Home | Index


We love those sites:

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded;
        somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp
        hill; sharp features.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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}.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe;
        painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and
        frosty air.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The morning sharp and clear.          --Cowper.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In sharpest perils faithful proved.   --Keble.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel;
        harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. "That sharp
        look." --Tennyson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To that place the sharp Athenian law
              Can not pursue us.                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Be thy words severe,
              Sharp as merits but the sword forbear. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.
                                                    --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Many other things belong to the material world,
              wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye?
              arrived at clear and distinct ideas.  --L. Watts.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for
        gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     9. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. "In sharp
        contest of battle." --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A sharp assault already is begun.     --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     10. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close
         and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp
         customer.
         [1913 Webster]
  
               The necessity of being so sharp and exacting.
                                                    --Swift.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     11. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
         --Moxon.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     12. Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or
         descent; a sharp turn or curve.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Sharp is often used in the formation of self-explaining
           compounds; as, sharp-cornered, sharp-edged,
           sharp-pointed, sharp-tasted, sharp-visaged, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
          [1913 Webster]

















Powered by Blog Dictionary [BlogDict]
Kindly supported by Vaffle Invitation Code Get a Freelance Job - Outsource Your Projects | Threadless Coupon
All rights reserved. (2008-2024)