Analysis Complete

sharpen

/ sharpen /
verb

Definitions & Examples

verb Sense 1
become sharp or sharper
"The debate sharpened"
Type of:
intensify deepen
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s
verb Sense 2
make sharp or sharper
"We had to sharpen our arguments"
Type of:
intensify compound heighten
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
verb Sense 3
make (one''s senses) more acute
"This drug will sharpen your vision"
Type of:
intensify compound heighten
Kinds of:
subtilize subtilise
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
verb Sense 4
give a point to
"The candles are tapered"
Type of:
change shape change form deform
Kinds of:
acuminate
Derived:
point tip peak pointedness taper
See also:
taper off peter out fizzle out fizzle
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
verb Sense 5
raise the pitch of (musical notes)
Opposites:
flatten drop
Type of:
change alter modify
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Domain:
music
verb Sense 6
make sharp or sharper
"sharpen the knives"
Opposites:
dull blunt
Type of:
change alter modify
Kinds of:
strap edge strop whet hone
Derived:
sharpener
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
verb Sense 7
make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper
Opposites:
soften
Type of:
change intensity
Kinds of:
focus
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Somebody ----s on something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
verb Sense 8
put (an image) into focus
"Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie"
Opposites:
blur blear
Type of:
adjust set correct
Kinds of:
refocus pin down narrow down
Derived:
focalization focalisation focusing focus
Causes:
focus focalize focalise
See also:
focus on center on revolve around revolve about concentrate on
Usage Patterns:
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something
Semantic Complexity
60%
Sense Count
8
Total Synonyms
0
Total Relationships
62
Times Searched
2
Relationship Distribution

Word Relationship Graph

Synonyms Antonyms Hypernyms Hyponyms

Related Words

intensify deepen compound heighten subtilize subtilise change shape change form deform acuminate change alter