DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 sharp·en /ˈʃɑrpən/
 (vt.)使尖銳,使敏捷,加重,使劇烈(vi.)尖銳化,變鋒利

 Sharp·en v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sarpened p. pr. & vb. n. Sharpening.]  To make sharp. Specifically: (a) To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper; as, to sharpen an ax, or the teeth of a saw. (b) To render more quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious.
 The air . . . sharpened his visual ray
 To objects distant far.   --Milton.
    He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill.   --Burke.
 (c) To make more eager; as, to sharpen men's desires.
 Epicurean cooks
 Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite.   --Shak.
 (d) To make more pungent and intense; as, to sharpen a pain or disease. (e) To make biting, sarcastic, or severe. “Sharpen each word.” --E. Smith. (f) To render more shrill or piercing.
    Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and sharpen it.   --Bacon.
 (g) To make more tart or acid; to make sour; as, the rays of the sun sharpen vinegar. (h) Mus. To raise, as a sound, by means of a sharp; to apply a sharp to.

 Sharp·en, v. i. To grow or become sharp.
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 sharpen
      v 1: make sharp or sharper; "sharpen the knives" [ant: dull]
      2: make sharp or sharper; "We had to sharpen our arguments"
      3: become sharp or sharper; "The debate sharpened"
      4: put (an image) into focus; "Please focus the image; we
         cannot enjoy the movie" [syn: focus, focalize, focalise]
         [ant: blur]
      5: make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper [ant: soften]
      6: raise the pitch of (musical notes) [ant: flatten]
      7: give a point to; "The candles are tapered" [syn: taper, point]
      8: make (one's senses) more acute; "This drug will sharpen your
         vision" [syn: heighten]