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sharp
sharp / shärp/ • adj. 1. (of an object) having an edge or point that is able to cut or pierce something: cut the cake with a very sharp knife keep tools sharp. ∎ producing a sudden, piercing physical sensation or effect: I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my back. ∎ (of a food, taste, or smell) acidic and intense: sharp goats' milk cheese. ∎ (of a sound) sudden and penetrating: there was a sharp crack of thunder. ∎ (of words or a speaker) intended or intending to criticize or hurt: she feared his sharp tongue. ∎ (of an emotion or experience) felt acutely or intensely; painful: her sharp disappointment was tinged with embarrassment. 2. tapering to a point or edge: a sharp pencil her face was thin and her nose sharp. ∎ distinct in outline or detail; clearly defined: the job was a sharp contrast from her past life | the scene was as sharp and clear in his mind as a film. ∎ inf. (of clothes or their wearer) neat and stylish: they were greeted by a young man in a sharp suit. 3. (of an action or change) sudden and marked: there was a sharp increase in interest rates he heard her sharp intake of breath. ∎ (of a bend, angle, or turn) making a sudden change of direction: a sharp turn in the river. ∎ having or showing speed of perception, comprehension, or response: her sharp eyes missed nothing | his old mind was not so sharp as it once was | he had a sharp sense of humor. ∎ quick to take advantage, esp. in an unscrupulous or dishonest way: Paul's a sharp operator. 4. (of musical sound) above true or normal pitch. ∎ [in comb.] (of a note) a semitone higher than a specified note: the song sits on E and F-sharp | the quartet in C-sharp minor. ∎ (of a key) having a sharp or sharps in the key signature: recorder players are most comfortable in sharp keys. • adv. 1. precisely (used after an expression of time): the meeting starts at 7:30 sharp. 2. in a sudden or abrupt way: the creek bent sharp left he was brought up sharp by Helen's voice. 3. above the true or normal pitch of musical sound: he heard him playing a little sharp on the high notes. • n. 1. a musical note raised a semitone above natural pitch. ∎ the sign (♯) indicating this. 2. a long, sharply pointed sewing needle. ∎ (usu. sharps) a thing with a sharp edge or point, such as a hypodermic needle, a blade, or a fragment of glass: the safe disposal of sharps and clinical waste. 3. inf. a swindler or cheat. See also card sharp. • v. [tr.] 1. [usu. as adj.] (sharped) Mus. raise the pitch of (a note). 2. archaic cheat or swindle (someone), esp. at cards: the fellow is drunk, let's sharp him. PHRASES: sharp as a tack extremely clever or astute.DERIVATIVES: sharp·ly adv. sharp·ness n. |
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Cite this article
"sharp." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sharp." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sharp.html "sharp." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sharp.html |
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sharp
sharp having a keen edge or point; keen, acute; severe, harsh; pungent OE.; shrill XIV; (mus.) XVI; sb. uses date from XIV. OE. sċ(e)arp = OS. skarp (Du. scherp), OHG. skarf, scarpf(G. scharf), ON. skarpr :- Gmc. *skarpaz; cf. OE. sċearpe scarification, sċearpian scarify, OHG. scurfen (G. schürfen scratch), and SCRAPE.
Hence sharpen XV. superseding (dial.) sharp, OE. *sċierpan, sċerpan; see -EN5. sharper cheat, swindler. XVII. See -ER1; cf. sharp vb. swindle (XVII). sharply (-LY2), sharpness OE. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sharp.html T. F. HOAD. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-sharp.html |
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sharp
sharp.
1. As noun, the sign (♯) which, placed by a note, raises its pitch by a semitone. A sharp in the key signature affects all notes on corresponding degree of scale. See inflection of notes. (In Amer. usage a note is ‘sharped'; in Eng. ‘sharpened’.) 2. As adjective, describes singing or playing which departs from correct intonation upwards (opposite of flat, downwards). |
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Cite this article
MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-sharp.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "sharp." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-sharp.html |
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sharp
sharp In musical notation, an accidental sign placed before a note or immediately after the clef to indicate that the note it refers to should be sounded a semitone higher. It is designated by the sign #.
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Cite this article
"sharp." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sharp." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sharp.html "sharp." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sharp.html |
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sharp
sharp
•Arp, carp, harp, scarp, sharp, tarp
•cardsharp
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Cite this article
"sharp." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sharp." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sharp.html "sharp." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sharp.html |
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