The meaning of Sharpening

adjective

(of a plant or animal structure, e.g. a leaf) tapering to a point.

Usage examples:

In place of these, we analyzed timing of anthesis, presence or absence of seed wings and pistillate…

adjective

More desirable, satisfactory, or effective.

Usage examples:

We're hoping for better weather tomorrow

adverb

More excellently or effectively.

Usage examples:

Jonathon could do better if he tried

noun

The better one; that which is better.

Usage examples:

The natural history museum book is by far the better of the two

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

verb

A line determining the limits of an area

verb

Intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.

Usage examples:

His refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation

Increase

verb

To improve the quality, amount, or strength of something

Usage examples:

The marinade enhances the flavor of the fish., the county took steps to enhance water quality., [ c…

noun

A folder or box for holding loose papers together and in order for easy reference.

Usage examples:

A file of correspondence

verb

Place (a document) in a cabinet, box, or folder in a particular order.

Usage examples:

The contract, when signed, is filed

verb

(of a group of people) walk one behind the other, typically in an orderly and solemn manner.

Usage examples:

The mourners filed into the church

verb

To make small changes in (something) in order to make it work as well as possible

verb

To make small changes to something in order to make it as good as possible

Usage examples:

The training program helped him fine-tune his skill set., the company's aim is to fine-tune its man…

verb

Reduce (something) to small particles or powder by crushing it.

Usage examples:

Grind some black pepper over the salad

noun

A crushing or grating sound or motion.

Usage examples:

The crunch and grind of bulldozers

noun

Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading

verb

Sharpen (a blade).

Usage examples:

He was carefully honing the curved blade

noun

Another way of saying home in on (see home).

Usage examples:

The detectives honed in on the suspect

verb

To direct something such as an ability to make it more effective

Usage examples:

He helps performers hone their skills as dancers and singers., to hone scissors

verb

Make or become better.

Usage examples:

Efforts to improve relations between the countries

verb

To make better

adjective

Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

Usage examples:

Life certainly isn't perfect at the moment

verb

Make (something) completely free from faults or defects; make as good as possible.

Usage examples:

He's busy perfecting his bowling technique

noun

(of a tense) denoting a completed action or a state or habitual action which began in the past. the perfect tense is formed in english with have or has and the past participle, as in they have eaten and they have been eating ( present perfect ), they had eaten ( past perfect ), and they will have eaten ( future perfect ).

phrasal verb

To improve something

Usage examples:

I write a rough draft on the computer and then polish it up a bit.

verb

Remove impurities or unwanted elements from (a substance), typically as part of an industrial process.

Usage examples:

Sugar was refined by boiling it in huge iron vats

verb

To make a substance pure by removing unwanted material

Usage examples:

Sugar and oil are refined before use., we haven’t finished refining the plan yet.

verb

To improve something or to make it pure, especially by removing material that is not wanted

Usage examples:

Crude oil is industrially refined to purify it., engineers spent many months refining the software.

noun

A device, typically a strip of leather, for sharpening razors.

Usage examples:

He taught his sons the bible and beat them with a razor strop.

verb

Sharpen on or with a strop.

Usage examples:

He stropped a knife razor-sharp on his belt

noun

A bad mood; a temper.

Usage examples:

Nathalie gets in a strop and makes to leave

verb

Sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon).

Usage examples:

She took out her dagger and began to whet its blade in even, rhythmic strokes

noun

A thing that stimulates appetite or desire.

Usage examples:

He swallowed his two dozen oysters as a whet