sharp

Meaning

Adj

1. Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
2. (colloquial) Intelligent.
3. Raised by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
4. Higher in pitch than required.
5. Having a strong acrid or acidic taste.
6. Sudden, abrupt, intense, rapid.
7. (colloquial) Illegal or dishonest.
8. (colloquial) Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd, verging on dishonest.
9. Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
10. Offensive, critical, or acrimonious; stern or harsh.
11. (colloquial) Stylish, smart or attractive.
12. Observant; alert; acute.
13. Quick and alert.
14. Strongly distinguishing or differentiating; acute.
15. Forming a small or tight angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
16. Steep; precipitous; abrupt.
17. Said of as extreme a value as possible.
18. Tactical; risky.
19. Piercing; keen; severe; painful.
20. Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.
21. (obsolete) Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
22. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.
23. (dated) Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
24. (obsolete) Hungry.

Adv

1. In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses.
2. In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses.
3. In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses.
4. In a sharp manner: a less usual alternative to sharply in certain senses.
5. (not-comparable) Exactly.
6. In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.

Noun

1. 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 one chromatic semitone higher.
2. A note that is played one chromatic semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ♯.
3. A note that is sharp in a particular key.
4. The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
5. (plural-normally) Something that is sharp.
6. (plural-normally) Something that is sharp.
7. (dated, plural-normally) Something that is sharp.
8. (plural-normally) Something that is sharp.
9. A dishonest person; a cheater.
10. Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
11. A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between.
12. (in-plural) Fine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings.
13. (dated, slang) An expert.
14. A sharpie (member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s).
15. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of sharpie (“type of fishing boat”).

Verb

1. To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
2. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To sharpen.

Synonyms

keen

acute

pointed

shrewd

clever

smart

biting

poignant

astute

acrimonious

acrid

bright

cutting

piercing

pungent

lurid

waspish

harsh

shrill

bitter

intelligent

witty

nimble

cunning

canny

fine

severe

crafty

exactly

sly

clear

quick

caustic

artful

wily

fierce

penetrating

trenchant

cagey

skillful

steep

foxy

shifty

calculating

intense

cautious

dodgy

tricky

incisive

hard

Translations

scharf

scherp

agudo

afilado

tranchant

affilato

agudo

aguzzo

acuto

afiado

appuntito

agut

pointu

tagliente

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʃɑːp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: scharp

Inherited from Old English: sċearp

Cognate with Western Frisian: skerp

Cognate with Low German: scharp

Cognate with Dutch: scherp

Cognate with German: scharf

Cognate with Danish: skarp

Cognate with Irish: cearb

Cognate with Latin: acerbus

In summary

From Middle English scharp, from Old English sċearp, from Proto-West Germanic *skarp, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb-, from *(s)ker- (“to cut”).
Cognate with West Frisian skerp, Low German scherp, scharp, schaarp, Dutch scherp, German scharf, Danish skarp. Compare Irish cearb (“keen; cutting”), Latin acerbus (“tart, bitter”), Tocharian B kärpye (“rough”), Latvian skârbs (“sharp, rough”), Russian щерба (ščerba, “notch”), Polish szczerba (“gap, dent, jag, chip, nick, notch”), Albanian harb (“rudeness”). More at shear.

Sentences

Split the log with a quick , sharp blow .

A large piece suddenly came off and fell with a loud and sharp noise .

It gave a peculiarly sharp cry .