sharp

About 29.13 uses per million words.

Meaning

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

   I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.

2. adjective Intelligent.

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

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

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

5. adjective Having a strong acrid or acidic taste.

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

6. adjective Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid.

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

7. adjective Illegal or dishonest.

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

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

   a sharp dealer, a sharp customer, sharp practice

Similar words

sharpened pointed acuate edged cutting piercing stabbing knifelike penetrating penetrative

Often followed by

and contrast as knife increase distinction edges edge decline

Word family

Phillip Allen Sharp Sharp sharped sharper sharpest sharping sharply sharpness sharpnesses sharps