Basic+ Word of the Day: sharp

sharp (adjective)

Sharp means ‘ending in an edge or point.’

• The pencil has a sharp point.
• Use a sharp knife to slice the ham.

Sharp also means ‘mentally quick.’

• The comedian has a sharp sense of humor.
• Grandpa may be old, but he still has a sharp mind.

Sharp also means ‘clearly defined.’

• There was a sharp contrast between the opinions of the two politicians, but they found a way to compromise.
• The photographer captured the sharp shadows in the black and white photo.

Common uses

sharpshooter: a person skilled in shooting guns. Example: “Sharpshooters were posted on the roofs of buildings during the parade.”

Did you know?

In music, a sharp is a half note higher than the standard note and a flat is a half note lower. Many musical pieces have sharp or flat in the title, for example, “Sonata in G-Sharp Minor.”

Additional information

If you ever want to call someone stupid, you can say, “He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

In pop culture

Listen to Linkin Park sing “Sharp Edges.” Although a mother may give her son advice to be cautious, this son has to figure it out for himself. The sharp edges refer to his risky behavior.

There are other meanings of sharp.