SHARP

Pronunciation (US):

• 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.

• 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