sharp

comparative sharper · superlative sharpest

1. Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.

   a face with sharp features

   5 more 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.

   Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

   If a knife which is sharp is incorrectly used it will obviously be dangerous.

   1984, Michael Grater, Paper Mask Making, →ISBN, page 55

   Fifteen children reported handling curvos, five machetes, and one a sharp knife used to cut yellow leaves off the banana plants.

   2002, Carol Pier, Tainted Harvest, →ISBN

   Synonyms: keen, razor, razor-sharp, pointed

2. colloquialIntelligent.

   My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.

   1 more example

   At school, despite his sharp mind, Malcolm was laughed at by teachers when he said he wanted to be a lawyer.

   2015 February 20, Jesse Jackson, “In the Ferguson era, Malcolm X’s courage in fighting racism inspires more than ever”, in The Guardian (London)

   Synonyms: brainy, bright, intelligent, keen, smart, witty

3. entertainmentRaised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ⟨♯⟩ after the name of the note).
4. entertainmentHigher in pitch than required.

   The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.

5. Having a strong acrid or acidic taste.

   This grapefruit is especially sharp.

   1 more example

   Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.

   Synonyms: acrid, pungent

6. Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid.

   The man turned and made a sharp movement towards the door.

   2 more examples

   A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.

   She wakened in sharp panic, bewildered by the grotesquerie of some half-remembered dream in contrast with the harshness of inclement fact, […]

   1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter II (Burglary), page 378, column 1

   Synonyms: abrupt, acute, stabbing

7. colloquialIllegal or dishonest.

   Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.

   Synonyms: dishonest, dodgy, illegal, illicit, underhand

8. colloquialKeenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest.

   a sharp dealer, a sharp customer, sharp practice

   1 more example

   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.

   1732, Jonathan Swift, Considerations Upon Two Bills

9. Exact, precise, accurate; keen.

   You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.

   1 more example

   Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.

   2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist

   Synonyms: accurate, exact, keen, precise

10. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious; stern or harsh.

    sharp criticism

    2 more examples

    When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.

    The reviews have ranged from excellent (In Touch, Jan 76, and Gay Literature, Winter 76) to qualified praise (GCN, 6 Mar 76) to sharp attack (Allen Young in the current Gay Liberator; Allen calls it trivial and misogynist.

    1976 August 14, John Mitzel, Richard Hall, “The Whodunit Writer: Why He Dun It”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 7, page 7

    Synonyms: acrimonious, bitter, cutting, harsh, hostile, nasty

11. colloquialStylish, smart or attractive.

    You look so sharp in that tuxedo!

    1 more example

    A sharp dresser partial to snakeskin shoes whose miniature Australian shepherd dog Saatchi is a constant fixture on family outings, [Donald] Tang's next move was to reinvent himself as a dealmaker connecting China with Hollywood amid growing demand for entertainment content in both countries.

    2024 July 13, Laura Onita, Eleanor Olcott, “Shein’s master of reinvention treads tricky path to IPO”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 11

    Synonyms: chic, elegant, smart, stylish

12. Observant; alert; acute.

    Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!

    Synonyms: acute, alert, keen, observant, sharp-eyed

13. Quick and alert.

    Jones, the centre forward, made a sharp start to the game.

14. Strongly distinguishing or differentiating; acute.

    a sharp contrast, a sharp distinction

    1 more example

    Paradoxically, the sharp and unambiguous formulas in which Lenin called for the use of terror and denied the possibility of democracy and freedom testified to the fact that freedom had not yet been completely eradicated.

    1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 508

15. Forming a small or tight angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.

    a sharp turn or curve

    2 more examples

    Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.

    The street down which Warwick had come intersected Front Street at a sharp angle in front of the old hotel, forming a sort of flatiron block at the junction, known as Liberty Point

    1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC

16. Steep; precipitous; abrupt.

    a sharp ascent or descent

17. mathematicsSaid of as extreme a value as possible.

    Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number.

18. board gamesTactical; risky.

    In such situations most chess players choose the obvious and logical way: they go in for sharp play. However, not everyone is a natural attacking player[…]

    1975, Luděk Pachman, Decisive Games in Chess History, page 64

    1 more example

    Time and time again, the amateur player has lost the opportunity to make the really best move because he felt bound to follow some chess "rule" he had learned, rather than to make the sharp move which was indicated by the position.

    1963, Max Euwe, Chess Master Vs. Chess Amateur, page xviii

19. Piercing; keen; severe; painful.

    a sharp pain; the sharp and frosty winter air

    3 more examples

    Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.

    c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

    The night was Winter in his roughest mood; the morning sharp and clear.

    1785, William Cowper, The Task: The Winter Walk at Noon

    In sharpest perils faithful proved, Let his soul love thee to the end.

    1867, John Keble, “St. Peter's Release”, in J.G.Holland, editor, Christ and the Twelve: Scenes and Events in the Life of Our Saviour and His Apostles, page 424

20. Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.

    a sharp appetite

21. obsoleteFierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.

    A sharp assault already is begun;

    1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperor: Act III

    1 more example

    And fear of God, from whom their piety feign'd In sharp contest of battle found no aid Against invaders

    1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost

22. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.

    Well-burnt good lime and sharp sand, if very sharp, a load of sand (about 36 bushels) to a hundred of lime (being 25 bushels, or a hundred pecks[…]

    1700, Edward Moxon, Mechanical Exercises

23. datedhuman sciencesUttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
24. obsoleteHungry.

    “[…] It’s child’s play to find the stuff now. I’ve half a mind to dine first.” “I don’t feel sharp,” growled Morgan.

    1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

    1 more example

    “[W]hy this last week we ha'n't had nothing at all but some dry musty red herrings; so you may think, Miss, we're kept pretty sharp!”

    1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.1

comparative sharper · superlative sharpest

1. In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses.
   1. To a point or edge.
   2. Piercingly.

      The iron plates rang sharp, but turn'd the spear

      1853, Matthew Arnold, Sohrab and Rustum

   3. Eagerly.

      You bite so sharp at reasons.

      c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

   4. So as to make a sharp, or tight, angle.

      sharp left, sharp right

      1 more example

      South of the city the river turns sharp to the east.

2. not comparableExactly.

   I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.

   Synonyms: exactly

3. entertainmentIn a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.

   I didn't enjoy the concert much because the soprano sang sharp on all the high notes.

   1 more example

   1867, Dutton Cook, Hobson's Choice, Chapter 8, “Music Hath Charms”, p. 72 https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Hobson_s_Choice/hwhhEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Matilda+Milner+frequently+sang+sharp%22&pg=PA72&printsec=frontcover Whereas Matilda Milner frequently sang sharp, in spite of the efforts of Miss Brown, who played the accompaniment, to give her the right note and keep her in tune.

plural sharps

1. entertainmentThe symbol ⟨♯⟩, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played one chromatic semitone higher.

   The pitch pipe sounded out a perfect F♯ (F sharp).

   1 more example

   Transposition frequently is harder to read because of all the sharps and flats on the staff.

2. entertainmentA note that is played one chromatic semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ⟨♯⟩.
3. entertainmentA note that is sharp in a particular key.

   The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.

4. entertainmentThe scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.

   Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is written in C♯ minor (C sharp minor).

5. plural normallySomething that is sharp.

   Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.

   1 more example

   If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.

   c. 1700, Jeremy Collier, On Duelling

   1. plural normallymedicineA hypodermic syringe.
   2. datedplural normallymedicineA scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery.
   3. plural normallygovernmentA sharp object; any item pointed enough to injure human skin.
6. A dishonest person; a cheater.

   The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.

   2 more examples

   The billiard sharp whom anyone catches / His doom's extremely hard— [...]

   1885, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert; Arthur Sullivan, composer, “A More Humane Mikado”, in […] The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu, London: Chappel & Co., […], →OCLC, Act II, page 36

   This usage is often classified as a variant spelling of shark, and unrelated to the 'pointed' or 'cutting' meanings of sharp.

7. Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.

   here are good fish to be picked out of sharps and stop-holes into the water-tables

   1858, Charles Kingsley, “Chalk Stream Studies”, in Fraser's Magazine

8. A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between.
9. in pluralFine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings.

   While he worked he talked to his ducks, who were waddling about hopefully, as it was almost time for the red bucket to be filled with sharps and potato-peelings.

   1954, Barbara Comyns, Who Was Changed And Who Was Dead, Dorothy, published 2010, page 21

10. datedslangAn expert.
11. A sharpie (member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s).

    The Circle was one of the few dances the older sharps frequented; mostly they were to be found in pubs, pool-halls or at the track.

    2006, Iain McIntyre, Tomorrow Is Today: Australia in the Psychedelic Era, 1966-1970

12. alternativeAlternative form of sharpie (“type of fishing boat”).

present singular third person sharps · participle present sharping · participle past sharped · past sharped

1. entertainmentTo raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.

   That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!

2. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.

   he made a shift yet to pick up a Sorry Living upon the Rook ; and not by Sharping alone , but now and then by downright Stealing

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

3. obsoletetransitiveTo sharpen.

plural Sharps · alternative Sharpe

1. A surname.
2. An unincorporated community in Ozark County, Missouri, United States.

plural SHARPs

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of skinhead against racial prejudice.