sharpen

Universal Words verb 1 to make sth sharper; to become sharper: [VN] She sharpened her pencils and started drawing. * This knife needs sharpening. * [V] The outline of the trees sharpened as it grew lighter. 2 if a sense or feeling sharpens or sth sharpens it, it becomes stronger and/or clearer: [VN] Her hearing was sharpened by fear. * The sea air sharpened our appetites. * Clare's kindness sharpened his awareness of the differences between them. [also V] 3 [VN] to make a disagreement between people, or an issue on which people disagree, clearer and more likely to produce a result: There is a need to sharpen the focus of the discussion. 4 ~ (sth) (up) to become or make sth better, more skilful, more effective, etc. than before SYNIMPROVE: [V] He needs to sharpen up before the Olympic trials. * [VN] She's doing a course to sharpen her business skills. * We're looking to sharpen up the product's image. 5 [V, VN] if your voice sharpens or sth sharpens it, it becomes high and loud in an unpleasant way