Definitions
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adjective
Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
Examples
- I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.
- Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.
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adjective
Intelligent.
Examples
- My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.
- At school, despite his sharp mind, Malcolm was laughed at by teachers when he said he wanted to be a lawyer.
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adjective
Raised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ⟨♯⟩ after the name of the note).
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adjective
Higher in pitch than required.
Example
- The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.
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adjective
Having a strong acrid or acidic taste.
Examples
- Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.
- This grapefruit is especially sharp.
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adjective
Sudden, abrupt, intense, or rapid.
Examples
- A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.
- The man turned and made a sharp movement towards the door.
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adjective
Illegal or dishonest.
Example
- Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.
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adjective
Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest.
Examples
- a sharp dealer, a sharp customer, sharp practice
- But, as they have hitherto stood, a clergyman established in a competent living is not under the necessity of being so sharp, vigilant, and exacting.
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adjective
Exact, precise, accurate or keen.
Example
- You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.
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adjective
Offensive, critical, or acrimonious or stern or harsh.
Examples
- sharp criticism
- When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.