SHARP
Dictionary entry overview: What does sharp mean?
• SHARP (noun)
The noun SHARP has 2 senses:
1. a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
2. a long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
Familiarity information: SHARP used as a noun is rare.
• SHARP (adjective)
The adjective SHARP has 12 senses:
1. (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
2. ending in a sharp point
3. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
4. marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
5. harsh
6. having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
7. extremely steep
8. keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point
9. having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing
10. raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone
11. very sudden and in great amount or degree
12. quick and forceful
Familiarity information: SHARP used as an adjective is familiar.
• SHARP (adverb)
The adverb SHARP has 1 sense:
1. changing suddenly in direction and degree
Familiarity information: SHARP used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SHARP (noun)
Meaning:
A musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("sharp" is a kind of...):
musical notation (a notation used by musicians)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sharp"):
double sharp (a musical notation of two sharps in front of a note indicating that it is to be raised by two semitones)
Meaning:
A long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("sharp" is a kind of...):
sewing needle (a needle used in sewing to pull thread through cloth)
• SHARP (adjective)
Meaning:
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
Synonyms:
sharp; crisp
Context examples:
a sharp photographic image / the sharp crack of a twig / the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot
Similar:
distinct (easy to perceive; especially clearly outlined)
Meaning:
Ending in a sharp point
Synonyms:
acuate; needlelike; sharp; acute
Similar:
pointed (having a point)
Meaning:
Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
Synonyms:
penetrating; keen; incisive; piercing; penetrative; knifelike; sharp; discriminating; acute
Context examples:
an acute observer of politics and politicians / incisive comments / icy knifelike reasoning / as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang / penetrating insight / frequent penetrative observations
Similar:
perceptive (having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment)
Meaning:
Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
Synonyms:
astute; shrewd; sharp
Context examples:
a smart businessman / an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease / he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow
Similar:
smart (showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness)
Meaning:
Harsh
Synonyms:
sharp-worded; tart; sharp
Context examples:
sharp criticism / a sharp-worded exchange / a tart remark
Similar:
unpleasant (disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings)
Meaning:
Having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
Synonyms:
shrill; piercing; sharp
Context examples:
piercing screams / a shrill whistle / a shrill gaiety
Similar:
high; high-pitched (used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency)
Meaning:
Extremely steep
Synonyms:
precipitous; abrupt; sharp
Context examples:
an abrupt canyon / the precipitous rapids of the upper river / the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings / a sharp drop
Similar:
steep (having a sharp inclination)
Meaning:
Keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point
Context examples:
a sharp pain / sharp winds
Similar:
scratching ((of a pain) as if caused by scraping with nails or claws)
salt ((of speech) painful or bitter)
fulgurating (sharp and piercing)
cutting; keen; knifelike; lancinate; lancinating; piercing; stabbing (as physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument)
acute; intense (extremely sharp or intense)
Antonym:
dull (not keenly felt)
Meaning:
Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing
Context examples:
a sharp knife / a pencil with a sharp point
Similar:
keen (having a sharp cutting edge or point)
knifelike (cutting or able to cut as if with a knife)
metal-cutting (hard and sharp enough to cut metal)
penetrating; penetrative (tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing)
razor-sharp (as sharp as a razor)
sharpened (made sharp or sharper)
sharp-toothed (having sharp teeth)
incisive; piercing (suitable for cutting or piercing)
file-like (resembling a file)
fang-like (resembling a fang)
carnassial ((of a tooth) adapted for shearing flesh)
chisel-like (resembling a chisel)
cutting (suitable for cutting or severing)
dagger-like (resembling a dagger)
drill-like (resembling a drill)
edged (having a cutting edge or especially an edge or edges as specified; often used in combination)
Also:
pointed (having a point)
Attribute:
keenness; sharpness (thinness of edge or fineness of point)
Antonym:
dull (not having a sharp edge or point)
Meaning:
Raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone
Context example:
C sharp
Domain category:
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Antonym:
flat (lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone)
natural ((of a key) containing no sharps or flats; (of a note) being neither raised nor lowered by one chromatic semitone)
Meaning:
Very sudden and in great amount or degree
Context example:
a sharp drop in the stock market
Similar:
sudden (happening without warning or in a short space of time)
Meaning:
Quick and forceful
Context example:
a sharp blow
Similar:
forceful (characterized by or full of force or strength (often but not necessarily physical))
• SHARP (adverb)
Meaning:
Changing suddenly in direction and degree
Synonyms:
sharp; acutely; sharply
Context examples:
the road twists sharply after the light / turn sharp left here / the visor was acutely peaked / her shoes had acutely pointed toes
