01 a. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
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1.
Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.“He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point.” — Shak.
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2.
Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
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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.
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4.
High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone.(Mus.)
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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.“Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.” — Addison.“Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye� arrived at clear and distinct ideas.” — L. Watts.
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8.
Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
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9.
Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.“A sharp assault already is begun.” — Dryden.
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10.
Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer.“The necessity of being so sharp and exacting.” — Swift.
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11.
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
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12.
Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve.
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13.
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated.(Phonetics)
Phrases & compounds
Sharp practice —
the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient.
To brace sharp —
to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind.