Sharp /(?)/

Sharp

a.
  1. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
    He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point.
  2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
  3. Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash.
  4. High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone. (Mus.)
  5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air.
    Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
    The morning sharp and clear.
    In sharpest perils faithful proved.
  6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke.
    To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us.
    Be thy words severe, Sharp as merits but the sword forbear.
  7. Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment.
    Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.
    Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye arrived at clear and distinct ideas.
    — L. Watts.
  8. Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
  9. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
    A sharp assault already is begun.
  10. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer.
    The necessity of being so sharp and exacting.
  11. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
  12. Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve.
  13. Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated. (Phonetics)

Phrases & Compounds
Sharp practice
the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient.
To brace sharp
to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind.

Sharp

adv.
  1. To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
    The head [of a spear] full sharp yground.
    You bite so sharp at reasons.
  2. Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp. [Colloq.]

Phrases & Compounds
Look sharp
attend; be alert.

Sharp

n.
  1. A sharp tool or weapon. [Obs.]
    If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.
    — Collier.
  2. The character [♯] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch. (Mus.)
  3. A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly. [Prov. Eng.]
  4. A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps.
  5. Same as Middlings, 1.
  6. An expert. [Slang]

Sharp

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Sharped; p. pr. & vb. n. Sharping

  1. To sharpen. [Obs.]
  2. To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone. (Mus.)

Sharp

v. i.
  1. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
  2. To sing above the proper pitch. (Mus.)