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hone in

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hone 1   (hōn)   
n.  
  1. A fine-grained whetstone for giving a keen edge to a cutting tool.
  2. A tool with a rotating abrasive tip for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.
tr.v.   honed, hon·ing, hones
  1. To sharpen on a fine-grained whetstone.
  2. To perfect or make more intense or effective: a speaker who honed her delivery by long practice.
Phrasal Verb(s):
hone in
  1. To move or advance toward a target or goal: The missiles honed in on the military installation.
  2. To direct one's attention; focus: The lawyer honed in on the gist of the plaintiff's testimony.

[Middle English, from Old English hān, stone; see kō- in Indo-European roots. Hone in, alteration of home in.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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