English verb: sharpen | |||
1. | sharpen (contact) make sharp or sharper | ||
Samples | Sharpen the knives. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | edge, hone, strap, strop, whet | ||
Antonyms | blunt, dull | ||
2. | sharpen (change) make crisp or more crisp and precise | ||
Samples | We had to sharpen our arguments. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | compound, deepen, heighten, intensify | ||
Cause | sharpen | ||
3. | sharpen (change) become sharp or sharper | ||
Samples | The debate sharpened. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | deepen, intensify | ||
4. | sharpen (change) put (an image) into focus | ||
Samples | Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie. | ||
Synonyms | focalise, focalize, focus | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | adjust, correct, set | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | refocus | ||
Cause | focalise, focalize, focus | ||
Antonyms | blear, blur | ||
5. | sharpen (perception) make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change intensity | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | focus | ||
Antonyms | soften | ||
6. | sharpen (change) raise the pitch of (musical notes) | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Domain category | music | ||
Antonyms | flatten, drop | ||
7. | sharpen (change) give a point to | ||
Samples | The candles are tapered. | ||
Synonyms | point, taper | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change form, change shape, deform | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | acuminate | ||
8. | sharpen (change) make (one's senses) more acute | ||
Samples | This drug will sharpen your vision. | ||
Synonyms | heighten | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | compound, deepen, heighten, intensify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | subtilise, subtilize | ||