sharpen - Definition & Meaning | VisualLang Dictionary

shar

pen

Third Person

sharpens

Present Participle

sharpening

Past Tense

sharpened

Past Participle

sharpened

to make an object pointed or sharper

transitive

Before slicing the vegetables, she took a moment to sharpen the kitchen knife for better precision.
Before sketching, she sharpened the pencil to create finer lines and details.
The hunter sharpened the blade of his knife before heading into the woods.
The gardener sharpened the pruning shears to trim the overgrown branches.
The barber regularly sharpens the scissors to provide precise haircuts.

Antonyms:

to become more pointed or sharper

Over time, the chef's knife blade began to sharpen with each honing.
With regular use, the pencil's tip sharpened, ensuring clean and precise lines in the artwork.
As the grinding stone rotated, the blade gradually sharpened, its edge becoming more defined.
With exposure to the elements, the rock formations in the canyon sharpened.
With every stroke of the file, the saw teeth sharpened, making the saw more effective at cutting through wood.

to increase the clarity and definition of details in a picture

transitive

The photographer used post-processing techniques to sharpen the edges and enhance the details of the photograph.
In the darkroom, the photographer used special techniques to sharpen areas of interest in the black-and-white print.
The artist utilized high-resolution scanning to preserve and sharpen the fine details of the vintage photograph.
She carefully sharpened the portrait to highlight the subject's features and bring out the texture of their clothing.
After adjusting the exposure, she sharpened the image to make the architectural details pop.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

to increase the pitch of a note, usually by a semitone

transitive

The violinist carefully sharpened the notes in the solo passage to add brightness and clarity to the melody.
The composer used a chromatic scale with many sharpened notes to create a haunting melody.
When playing a minor scale, the seventh note is often sharpened to create a more dissonant sound.
The piano tuner sharpened the middle C to ensure the instrument was in perfect pitch.
The violinist carefully sharpened the note to create a more harmonious sound.

Antonyms:

(of sensory and intellectual perception) to enhance or intensify

As the conversation progressed, his wit and intellect seemed to sharpen.
As the climber ascended the mountain, her senses sharpened, attuning her to the nuances of the terrain and weather.
As the competition intensified, his competitive instincts sharpened, driving him to perform at his best.
As she focused on her breathing, her sense of awareness sharpened.
With practice, his palate sharpened, discerning subtle flavors and textures in the complex dishes he prepared.

Synonyms:

to accentuate certain frequencies or elements in a sound

transitive

The audio engineer sharpened the vocals in the mix to make the singer's voice stand out against the instrumentation.
Using equalization, she sharpened the high frequencies in the guitar track.
The mastering engineer sharpened the overall mix to ensure that each instrument was distinct and well-defined.
In the live performance, the sound technician sharpened the kick drum to add punch and impact to the rhythm section.
The producer sharpened the snare drum in the mix to cut through the dense arrangement and provide rhythmic drive.

Antonyms: