Definition of Sharp

1. Noun. A musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named.

Generic synonyms: Musical Notation
Specialized synonyms: Double Sharp

2. Adjective. (of something seen or heard) clearly defined. "The crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot"
Exact synonyms: Crisp
Similar to: Distinct
Derivative terms: Sharpness

3. Adverb. Changing suddenly in direction and degree. "Her shoes had acutely pointed toes"
Exact synonyms: Acutely, Sharply
Partainyms: Acute

4. Noun. A long thin sewing needle with a sharp point.
Generic synonyms: Sewing Needle

5. Adjective. Ending in a sharp point.
Exact synonyms: Acuate, Acute, Needlelike
Similar to: Pointed
Derivative terms: Acuteness, Sharpness

6. Adjective. Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. "Frequent penetrative observations"

7. Adjective. Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence. "He was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow"
Exact synonyms: Astute, Shrewd
Similar to: Smart
Derivative terms: Astuteness, Sharpness, Shrewdness

8. Adjective. Harsh. "A tart remark"
Exact synonyms: Sharp-worded, Tart
Similar to: Unpleasant
Derivative terms: Sharpness, Tartness

9. Adjective. Having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones. "A shrill gaiety"
Exact synonyms: Shrill
Similar to: High, High-pitched
Derivative terms: Shrillness

10. Adjective. Extremely steep. "A sharp drop"
Exact synonyms: Abrupt, Precipitous
Similar to: Steep
Derivative terms: Abruptness, Precipice, Precipitousness

11. Adjective. Keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point. "Sharp winds"

12. Adjective. Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing. "A pencil with a sharp point"

13. Adjective. (of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone. "C sharp"
Category relationships: Music
Antonyms: Flat, Natural

14. Adjective. Very sudden and in great amount or degree. "A sharp drop in the stock market"
Similar to: Sudden

15. Adjective. Quick and forceful. "A sharp blow"
Similar to: Forceful
Derivative terms: Sharpness

Definition of Sharp

1. a. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.

2. adv. To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.

3. n. A sharp tool or weapon.

4. v. t. To sharpen.

5. v. i. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.

Definition of Sharp

1. Adjective. Able to cut easily. ¹

2. Adjective. (colloquial) Intelligent. ¹

3. Adjective. Able to pierce easily; pointed. ¹

4. Adjective. (music) Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol (term ?) after the name of the note). ¹

5. Adjective. (music) Higher in pitch than required. ¹

6. Adjective. Having an intense, acrid flavour.'' ¹

7. Adjective. sudden and intense. ¹

8. Adjective. (colloquial) Illegal or dishonest.'' ¹

9. Adjective. Exact, precise, accurate; keen. ¹

10. Adjective. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious, as '''''sharp''' criticism.'' ¹

11. Adjective. (colloquial) Stylish or attractive. ¹

12. Adjective. Observant; alert; acute. ¹

13. Adjective. Forming a small angle; (non-gloss definition especially,) forming an angle of less than ninety degrees. ¹

14. Adjective. (mathematics of a statement) Said of as extreme a value as possible. ¹

15. Adverb. (notcomp) Exactly. ¹

16. Adverb. (music) In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable. ¹

17. Noun. (music) The symbol ?, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher. ¹

18. Noun. (music) A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ?. ¹

19. Noun. (music) A note that is sharp in a particular key. ¹

20. Noun. (music) The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic. ¹

21. Noun. (context: usually in the plural) Something which is sharp. ¹

22. Noun. (medicine) A hypodermic syringe. ¹

23. Noun. (medicine dated) A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery. ¹

24. Noun. A dishonest person; a cheater. ¹

25. Verb. (music) To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Sharp

1. suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing [adj SHARPER, SHARPEST] / to raise in pitch, as a musical tone [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Sharp

1. 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." (Shak) 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 odour; 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. Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C#), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C. So high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to flat. 5. Very trying to the feelings; pierching; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air. "Sharp misery had worn him to the bones." (Shak) "The morning sharp and clear." (Cowper) "In sharpest perils faithful proved." (Keble) 6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. "That sharp look." "To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us." (Shak) "Be thy words severe, Sharp as merits but the sword forbear." (Dryden) 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." (Addison) "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. "In sharp contest of battle." "A sharp assault already is begun." (Dryden) 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." (Swift) 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. Sharp is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sharp-cornered, sharp-edged, sharp-pointed, sharp-tasted, sharp-visaged, etc. Sharp practice, the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient. To brace sharp, or To sharp up, to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind. Synonym: Keen, acute, piercing, penetrating, quick, sagacious, discerning, shrewd, witty, ingenious, sour, acid, tart, pungent, acrid, severe, poignant, biting, acrimonious, sarcastic, cutting, bitter, painful, afflictive, violent, harsh, fierce, ardent, fiery. Origin: OE. Sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. Scearp; akin to OS. Skarp, LG. Scharp, D. Scherp, G. Scharf, Dan. & Sw. Skarp, Icel. Skarpr. Cf. Escarp, Scrape, Scorpion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Sharp

sharkish
sharkless
sharklike
sharkmeat
sharks
sharkskin
sharkskins
sharksucker
sharksuckers
sharky
sharn
sharnier
sharniest
sharns
sharny
sharp-and-a-half
sharp-cornered
sharp-eared
sharp-eyed
sharp-limbed
sharp-pointed
sharp-set
sharp-shinned hawk
sharp-shinned hawks
sharp-sighted
sharp-sightedness
sharp-tailed grouse
sharp-tongued
sharp-witted

Literary usage of Sharp

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero by William Makepeace Thackeray (1893)
"Miss sharp had demurely entered the carriage some minutes before. ... You may be hungry, you know; and Becky, Becky sharp, here 's a book for you that my ..."

2. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Tune middle C to desired pitch, then tune F — fifth below — sharp of C, until between C and F, there result three beats in five seconds. Next tune A-sharp— ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Tune middle С to desired pitch, then tune F — fifth below — sharp of C, until between С and F, there result three beats in five seconds. Next tune A-sharp— ..."

4. The American Revolution by George Otto Trevelyan (1905)
"Nevertheless when Granville sharp advanced, as an additional reason for declining to take ... Granville Wheler, Esq. : Memoirs of Granville sharp, Esq., ..."

5. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature by H.W. Wilson Company (1917)
"Bib World U por Country Ufe 33:45-9 D 47 sharp, Clayton H. Religion and nature in ... Atlan 120:445-53 О '17 sharp, William Graves, 1859- Independent ..."

6. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Thus, a tone inserted between C and D, is named C sharp, or D flat. A sharp J+, placed on a degree, raises the pitch of a tone a half-step; a Flat, b, ..."

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