Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing.
  • adjective Having clear form and detail.
  • adjective Terminating in an edge or a point.
  • adjective Clearly and distinctly set forth.
  • adjective Abrupt or acute.
  • adjective Intellectually penetrating; astute.
  • adjective Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception.
  • adjective Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings.
  • adjective Vigilant; alert.
  • adjective Briskly or keenly cold and cutting.
  • adjective Harsh or biting in tone or character.
  • adjective Fierce or impetuous; violent.
  • adjective Intense; severe.
  • adjective Sudden and shrill.
  • adjective Sudden and brilliant or dazzling.
  • adjective Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste.
  • adjective Composed of hard angular particles.
  • adjective Raised in pitch by a semitone.
  • adjective Being above the proper pitch.
  • adjective Having the key signature in sharps.
  • adjective Informal Attractive or stylish.
  • adverb In a sharp manner.
  • adverb Punctually; exactly.
  • adverb Music Above the true or proper pitch.
  • noun A sign (♯) used to indicate that a note is to be raised by a semitone.
  • noun A note that is raised a semitone.
  • noun A slender sewing needle with a very fine point.
  • noun An expert.
  • noun A shrewd cheater; a sharper.
  • intransitive verb To raise in pitch by a semitone.
  • intransitive verb To play or sing above the proper pitch.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Sharply.
  • Quickly.
  • Exactly; to the moment; not a minute later.
  • In music, above the true pitch: as, to sing sharp.
  • noun The tone given by such a key, or a tone in unison with such a tone: the D sharp next above middle C has (at French pitch) about 308 vibrations per second.
  • noun The staff-degree assigned to such a key or tone, being the same as that for D, but with a sharp upon it either in the signature or as an accidental.
  • noun A note placed on such a degree and indicating such a key or tone.
  • noun The key-note of the minor key of six sharps (D sharp minor).
  • noun In the fixed system of solmization, the sharp of the second tone of the scale, technically named ri.
  • noun The tone given by such a key, or a tone in unison with such a tone: the G sharp next above middle C has (at French pitch) about 411 vibrations per second.
  • noun The staff-degree assigned to such a key or tone, being the same as that for G, but with a ♮ upon it either in the signature or as an accidental.
  • noun A note placed on such a degree and indicating such a key or tone.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English scharp, from Old English scearp; see sker- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old English scearp, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz (cf. West Frisian skerp, Dutch scherp, German scharf), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerb(h) (cf. Irish cearb 'keen; cutting', Latin acerbus 'tart, bitter', Tocharian B kärpye 'rough', Latvian skârbs 'sharp, rough', Russian shcherba 'notch', Albanian harb 'rudeness'), from *(s)ker- 'to cut'. More at shear.

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Examples

  • But if the first pedal is now pushed down into the second notch the original F [flat] string is still further shortened and now sounds the pitch F [sharp] (giving us the key of G), and if all the other pedals are likewise successively lowered to the second notch we get in turn all the _sharp keys_ -- D, A, E, B,

    Music Notation and Terminology Karl Wilson Gehrkens 1928

  • To illustrate the difference in basic attitude, the term “sharp business practices” needs no explanation, whereas ’sharp scientific practices’ might imply just the opposite of the prior phrase.

    Letter to NAS on Panel Composition and Balance « Climate Audit 2006

  • The new neighbor was caught now, her expression sharp as a pencil point.

    Songs of Love & Death George R. R. Martin 2010

  • The new neighbor was caught now, her expression sharp as a pencil point.

    Songs of Love & Death George R. R. Martin 2010

  • The new neighbor was caught now, her expression sharp as a pencil point.

    Songs of Love & Death George R. R. Martin 2010

  • Caine looked up at the younger man, his expression sharp but his tone soft.

    Florida Getaway Max Allan Collins 2003

  • Caine looked up at the younger man, his expression sharp but his tone soft.

    Florida Getaway Max Allan Collins 2003

  • Caine looked up at the younger man, his expression sharp but his tone soft.

    Florida Getaway Max Allan Collins 2003

  • Caine looked up at the younger man, his expression sharp but his tone soft.

    Florida Getaway Max Allan Collins 2003

  • The sales been dropping but they gone keep bouncing back all they got to do is hire some southern artist to keep the label sharp and hungry and New Orleans and Atlanta got some of the most starvin and talented artist out now.

    WN.com - Articles related to Indian auto industry records highest sales for May 2010

Comments

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  • A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener by constant use.

    (Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle)

    June 16, 2008