sharp
I.sharp1 S3 W2 /ʃɑːp $ ʃɑːrp/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative sharper, superlative sharpest)
[Word Family: noun: ↑sharpener, ↑sharpness, ↑sharp; adverb: ↑sharp, ↑sharply, ↑sharpish; verb: ↑sharpen; adjective: ↑sharp]
[Language: Old English; Origin: scearp]
1. ABLE TO CUT EASILY having a very thin edge or point that can cut things easily OPP blunt:
Make sure you use a good sharp knife.
Its teeth are razor sharp (=very sharp).
2. TURN a sharp turn or bend changes direction suddenly:
We came to a sharp bend in the road.
sharp left/right
Take a sharp left after the church.
3. INCREASE/CHANGE a sharp increase, rise, fall etc happens suddenly and is great in amount SYN steep:
a sharp increase in prices
a sharp fall in unemployment
4. DIFFERENCE sharp differences are very big and very noticeable:
sharp differences of opinion
There is a sharp distinction between domestic and international politics.
His honesty is in sharp contrast to (=very different from) some other politicians.
5. PAIN/FEELINGS a sharp pain or feeling is sudden and severe OPP dull:
I felt a sharp pain in my back.
I was left with a sharp sense of disappointment.
6. DISAPPROVING speaking in a way that shows you disapprove of something or are annoyed OPP mild:
a sharp rebuke
John’s tone was sharp.
The boss can be very sharp with people when she’s busy.
somebody has a sharp tongue (=they speak in a very disapproving way which often upsets people)
7. INTELLIGENT able to think and understand things very quickly, and not easily deceived OPP dull, stupid:
a journalist with an extremely sharp mind
8. keep a sharp eye on somebody to watch someone very carefully, especially because you do not trust them:
Keep a sharp eye on the kids at all times!
9. PENCIL having a very thin point that can draw an exact line OPP blunt:
Make sure your pencils are sharp before we begin the test.
10. SOUND a sharp sound or cry is loud, short, and sudden:
a sharp cry of pain
a sharp intake of breath
11. TASTE having a slightly bitter taste OPP mild:
sharp cheddar cheese
Add mustard to give the dressing a sharper taste.
12. CLOTHES attractive and fashionable SYN smart British English:
Tod looked really sharp in his tux.
a sharp suit
13. SHAPE not rounded or curved:
sharp features
Her mother had a sharp little nose.
14. IMAGE/PICTURE if an image or picture is sharp, you can see all the details very clearly OPP fuzzy:
The outlines of the trees were sharp and clear.
15. GOOD AT NOTICING THINGS able to see and notice details very well
a sharp eye for detail (=the ability to notice and deal with details)
16. MUSIC
a) F sharp/D sharp/C sharp etc a musical note that is sharp has been raised by one ↑semitone from the note F, D, C etc
b) if music or singing is sharp, it is played or sung at a slightly higher ↑pitch than it should be ⇨ ↑flat1(9), ↑natural1(10)
17. WEATHER sharp wind/frost a very cold wind or a severe ↑frost:
A sharp wind blew across the lake.
18. sharp practice British English behaviour, especially in business, that is dishonest but not illegal:
He’s been guilty of sharp practice in the past.
19. be on the sharp end (of something) British English informal to experience the worst effects of something:
We were always on the sharp end of clients’ complaints.
—sharpness noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑sharply
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ sharp having a very thin edge or point that can cut things easily: a sharp knife | The dog’s teeth were very sharp. | Be careful. That knife’s very sharp. | You’ll need some sharp scissors. | Puppies mean to be playful, but their sharp teeth can give you a nasty bite.
▪ jagged having an irregular edge with a lot of sharp points: a jagged rock | The floor was covered with jagged pieces of glass.
▪ spiky having a lot of thin sharp points: a spiky cactus plant | The hedgehog uses its spiky fur for protection. | Some corals are quite smooth, others are sharp and spiky.
▪ prickly covered in a lot of small sharp points – used mainly about plants: a prickly bush | prickly leaves | The hedge was all prickly.
▪ serrated a serrated edge on a saw or knife has a lot of sharp points on it: It’s best to use a knife with a serrated edge.
▪ razor-sharp extremely sharp: The cat had razor-sharp claws.
 not sharp
▪ blunt not sharp – used about tools, weapons, or pencils: All the kitchen knives were blunt. | a blunt pencil | The woman had been attacked with a blunt instrument.
II.sharp2 BrE AmE adverb
[Word Family: noun: ↑sharpener, ↑sharpness, ↑sharp; adverb: ↑sharp, ↑sharply, ↑sharpish; verb: ↑sharpen; adjective: ↑sharp]
1. at ten thirty/2 o'clock etc sharp at exactly 10.30, 2.00 etc:
We’re meeting at one thirty sharp.
2. sharp left/right British English if you turn sharp left or right, you make a sudden change of direction to the left or right:
You turn sharp right at the crossroads.
3. look sharp British English old-fashioned used to tell someone to do something quickly:
If you look sharp, you might catch him before he leaves for London.
4. played or sung at a slightly higher ↑pitch than is correct ⇨ flat
III.sharp3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑sharpener, ↑sharpness, ↑sharp; adverb: ↑sharp, ↑sharply, ↑sharpish; verb: ↑sharpen; adjective: ↑sharp]
1. a musical note that has been raised one ↑semitone above the note written
2. the sign (#) in a line of written music, used to show that a musical note should be raised
⇨ ↑flat2(3)
sharphu| ◎ | [∫ɑ:p] | | ※ | tính từ | | | ■ | sắt, nhọn, bén | | | ☆ | a sharp knife | | | dao sắc | | | ☆ | a sharp summit | | | đỉnh nhọn | | | ■ | rõ nghĩa, dễ nhận, rõ ràng, sắc nét | | | ☆ | sharp distinction | | | sự phân biệt rõ ràng | | | ■ | thình lình, đột ngột (về đoạn cong, đường cong, dốc..) | | | ☆ | sharp turn | | | chỗ ngoặt đột ngột | | | ■ | lanh lảnh, chói tai, the thé (về âm thanh) | | | ☆ | a sharp cry of distress | | | tiếng kêu thất thanh trong cơn cùng quẫn | | | ■ | cay, hắc, gắt, hăng, tạo ra một cảm giác mạnh (về mùi, vị) | | | ☆ | the sharp taste of lemon juice | | | vị chua gắt của nước chanh | | | ■ | buốt, nhói (về cơn đau, cơn lạnh) | | | ☆ | a sharp wind | | | gió lạnh buốt | | | ■ | tinh, thính, nhạy, thông minh, sắc sảo | | | ☆ | sharp eyes | | | mắt tinh | | | ☆ | sharp ears | | | tai thính | | | ☆ | a sharp child | | | đứa trẻ thông minh | | | ■ | cao (về âm thanh, nhạc cụ..) | | | ■ | thăng, cao nửa cung (về nốt nhạc) | | | ■ | chỉ trích gay gắt | | | ☆ | a sharp remark | | | lời nhận xét gay gắt | | | ■ | ma mảnh, bất chính, thiếu đạo đức | | | ☆ | sharp practices | | | thủ đoạn bất lương | | | ■ | nhanh chóng, mau mắn, mạnh mẽ | | | ☆ | to take a sharp walk | | | đi bộ rảo bước | | | ■ | (ngôn ngữ học) điếc, không kêu | | | ■ | (thông tục) diện, chải chuốt | | | 〆 | as sharp as a needle | | | ✓ | rất thông minh và nhanh trí | | | 〆 | sharp pratice | | | ✓ | những chuyện làm ăn hoàn toàn không lương thiện | | | 〆 | sharp's the word! | | | ✓ | nhanh lên! chóng lên! | | | 〆 | look sharp | | | ✓ | nhanh, mau, vội | | ※ | danh từ | | | ■ | kim khâu mũi thật nhọn | | | ■ | (ngôn ngữ học) phụ âm điếc | | | ■ | (âm nhạc) nốt thăng; dấu thăng | | | ■ | (thông tục) người lừa đảo, người cờ gian bạc lận | | | ■ | (đùa cợt) chuyên gia, người thạo (về cái gì) | | | ■ | (số nhiều) (nông nghiệp) tấm, hạt tấm | | ※ | phó từ | | | ■ | sắc cạnh, sắc nhọn | | | ■ | (thông tục) đúng | | | ☆ | at six o'clock sharp | | | (lúc) đúng sáu giờ | | | ■ | (thông tục) đột ngột, bất thình lình; sững, vụt, đột | | | ☆ | stopped sharp | | | dừng khựng lại ngay | | | ☆ | to turn sharp round | | | quay lại đột ngột | | | ■ | (âm nhạc) cao quá độ cao đúng | | | ☆ | to sing sharp | | | hát cao giọng (sai điệu) |
| | ◎ | [sharp] | | 〆 | saying & slang | | | ■ | intelligent, quick to learn | | | ☆ | Geoff is a sharp kid. He's doing calculus at the age of twelve. | | | ■ | sarcastic, abrupt | | | ☆ | Even when Anne was tired, she never gave you a sharp reply. | | | ■ | at a specific time, on the dot | | | ☆ | The preacher began the service on time - at 11 a.m. sharp. |
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