1. Having the point made sharp
   "a sharpened pencil"
    
2. Made sharp or sharper
   "a sharpened knife cuts more cleanly"

1. Make sharp or sharper
   "sharpen the knives"
    
2. Become sharp or sharper
   "The debate sharpened"
    
3. Make crisp or more crisp and precise
   "We had to sharpen our arguments"
    
4. Give a point to
   "He sharpened his pencil before the test";
   - taper, point
    
5. Make (one's senses) more acute
   "This drug will sharpen your vision";
   - heighten
    
6. Put (an image) into focus
   "Please sharpen the image; we cannot enjoy the movie";
   - focus, focalize, focalise [Brit]
    
7. Make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper
   "The audio engineer sharpened the vocals in the mix"
    
8. (music) raise the pitch of (musical notes)
   "The musician sharpened the F to create a more dissonant chord"

See also: pointed, sharp

Type of: adjust, alter, change, change form, change intensity, change shape, compound, correct, deepen, deform, heighten, intensify, modify, set

Antonym: blunt, drop, soften

Encyclopedia: Sharpen