Music. above the true pitch: You're singing a little sharp.
–noun
34.
something sharp.
35.
Usually, sharps.a medium-length needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for all-purpose hand sewing.
36.
a sharper.
37.
Informal. an expert.
38.
Music.
a.
a tone one chromatic half step above a given tone.
b.
(in musical notation) the symbol ♯ indicating this.
[Origin: bef. 900; (adj.) ME; OE scearp; c. G scharf; akin to Ir cearb a cut (n.), keen (adj.); (adv.) ME; OE scearpe, deriv. of the adj.; (n.) ME, deriv. of the adj.; (v.) deriv. of the adj.]
—Related forms
sharply, adverb
sharpness, noun
—Synonyms 1.Sharp,keen refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, and the like. Sharp applies, in general, to a cutting edge or a point capable of piercing: a sharp knife; a sharp point. Keen is usually applied to sharp edges: a keen sword blade. 6. clear. 8. acrid, bitter, piquant, sour. 10. piercing, nipping, biting. 11. severe, excruciating. 12. unmerciful, cutting, acid, acrimonious, pointed, biting. 16. attentive. 17. clever, discriminating, discerning, perspicacious. As applied to mental qualities, sharp,keen,intelligent,quick have varying implications. Sharp suggests an acute, sensitive, alert, penetrating quality: a sharp mind. Keen implies observant, incisive, and vigorous: a keen intellect. Intelligent means not only acute, alert, and active, but also able to reason and understand: an intelligent reader. Quick suggests lively and rapid comprehension, prompt response to instruction, and the like: quick at figures. 20. shady, deceitful.
Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing.
Having clear form and detail: a sharp photographic image.
Terminating in an edge or a point: sharp angular cliffs; a sharp nose.
Clearly and distinctly set forth: sharp contrasts in behavior.
Intellectually penetrating; astute.
Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception: sharp hearing.
Briskly or keenly cold and cutting: a sharp wind.
Harsh or biting in tone or character: sharp criticism.
Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle.
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning.
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Being above the proper pitch.
Having the key signature in sharps.
Abrupt or acute: a sharp drop; a sharp turn.
Intellectually penetrating; astute.
Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception: sharp hearing.
Briskly or keenly cold and cutting: a sharp wind.
Harsh or biting in tone or character: sharp criticism.
Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle.
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning.
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Being above the proper pitch.
Having the key signature in sharps.
Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings: sharp selling practices.
Vigilant; alert: kept a sharp lookout for shoplifters.
Briskly or keenly cold and cutting: a sharp wind.
Harsh or biting in tone or character: sharp criticism.
Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle.
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning.
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Being above the proper pitch.
Having the key signature in sharps.
Fierce or impetuous; violent: a sharp temper; a sharp assault.
Intense; severe: a sharp pain.
Sudden and shrill: a sharp whistle.
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling: a sharp flash of lightning.
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Being above the proper pitch.
Having the key signature in sharps.
Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste: a sharp pungent odor; a sharp cheese.
Composed of hard angular particles: sharp sand.
Music
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Being above the proper pitch.
Having the key signature in sharps.
Informal Attractive or stylish: a sharp jacket. See Synonyms at fashionable.
adv.
In a sharp manner: hit me sharp on the brow.
Punctually; exactly: at three o'clock sharp.
Music Above the true or proper pitch.
n.
Music
A sign (♯) used to indicate that a note is to be raised by a half step.
A note that is raised a half step.
An expert.
A shrewd cheater; a sharper.
A slender sewing needle with a very fine point.
Informal
An expert.
A shrewd cheater; a sharper.
v.
sharped, sharp·ing, sharpsMusic
v.
tr.
To raise in pitch by a semitone.
v.
intr.
To play or sing above the proper pitch.
[Middle English scharp, from Old English scearp; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.]
sharp'ly adv., sharp'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives all apply literally to fine edges, points, or tips. Figuratively they indicate mental alertness and clarity of comprehension. Sharp suggests quickness and astuteness: "a young man of sharp and active intellect" (John Henry Newman).
Keen implies clear-headedness and acuity: a journalist with a keen mind and quick wits. Acute suggests penetrating perception or discernment: an acute observer of national politics.
SharpAudio Help (shärp) Pronunciation Key
American biologist who shared a 1993 Nobel prize in medicine for discovering that some genes are not continuous but instead contain sequences, known as introns, that do not function as codes for the formation of a protein.
O.E. scearp "cutting, keen, sharp," from P.Gmc. *skarpaz, lit. "cutting" (cf. O.S. scarp O.N. skarpr O.Fris. skerp Du. scherp Ger. scharf "sharp"), from PIE *(s)ker- "cut" (cf. Lett. skarbs "sharp," M.Ir. cerb "cutting;" see shear). The fig. meaning "acute or penetrating in intellect or perception" is from O.E. The meaning "promptly" is first attested 1840. The musical meaning "half step above a given tone" is from 1576. Phrase sharp as a tack first recorded 1912 (sharp as a needle has been around since O.E.).
"a cheat at games," 1797, short for sharper (1681), probably a variant of sharker (see shark). Meaning "expert, connoisseur" is attested friom 1840, and likely is from sharp (adj.).
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined; "a sharp photographic image"; "the sharp crack of a twig"; "the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot" [syn: crisp]
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" [syn: acute]
4.
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence; "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease"; "he was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow" [syn: astute]
5.
harsh; "sharp criticism"; "a sharp-worded exchange"; "a tart remark"
6.
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones ; "a shrill whistle"; "a shrill gaiety" [syn: shrill]
7.
extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" [syn: abrupt]
8.
keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point; "a sharp pain"; "sharp winds" [ant: dull]
9.
having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing; "a sharp knife"; "a pencil with a sharp point" [ant: dull]
10.
(of a musical note) raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone; "C sharp" [ant: flat, natural]
11.
very sudden and in great amount or degree; "a sharp drop in the stock market"
12.
quick and forceful; "a sharp blow"
adverb
1.
changing suddenly in direction and degree; "the road twists sharply after the light"; "turn sharp left here"; "the visor was acutely peaked"; "her shoes had acutely pointed toes" [syn: sharply]
noun
1.
a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
Sharp County, AR (county, FIPS 135) Location: 36.15391 N, 91.48151 W Population (1990): 14109 (7617 housing units) Area: 1565.4 sq km (land), 5.2 sq km (water)
Sharp\, a. [Compar. Sharper; superl. Sharpest.] [OE. sharp, scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G. scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. Escarp, Scrape, Scorpion.]1. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen. He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point. --Shak. 2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features. 3. Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash. 4. (Mus.) (a) High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone. (b) Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C[sharp]), which is a half step, or semitone, higher than C. (c) So high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to flat. 5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air. Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. --Shak. The morning sharp and clear. --Cowper. In sharpest perils faithful proved. --Keble. 6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. "That sharp look." --Tennyson. To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us. --Shak. Be thy words severe, Sharp as merits but the sword forbear. --Dryden. 7. Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment. Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want. --Addison. Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye? arrived at clear and distinct ideas. --L. Watts. 8. Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite. 9. Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous. "In sharp contest of battle." --Milton. A sharp assault already is begun. --Dryden. 10. Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer. The necessity of being so sharp and exacting. --Swift. 11. Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand. --Moxon. 12. Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve. 13. (Phonetics) Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated. Note: Sharp is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sharp-cornered, sharp-edged, sharp-pointed, sharp-tasted, sharp-visaged, etc. Sharp practice, the getting of an advantage, or the attempt to do so, by a tricky expedient. To brace sharp, or To sharp up (Naut.), to turn the yards to the most oblique position possible, that the ship may lie well up to the wind. Syn: Keen; acute; piercing; penetrating; quick; sagacious; discerning; shrewd; witty; ingenious; sour; acid; tart; pungent; acrid; severe; poignant; biting; acrimonious; sarcastic; cutting; bitter; painful; afflictive; violent; harsh; fierce; ardent; fiery.
Sharp\, adv. 1. To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply. --M. Arnold. The head [of a spear] full sharp yground. --Chaucer. You bite so sharp at reasons. --Shak. 2. Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp. [Colloq.] Look sharp, attend; be alert. [Colloq.]
Sharp\, n. 1. A sharp tool or weapon. [Obs.] If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs. --Collier. 2. (Mus.) (a) The character [[sharp]] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch. (b) A sharp tone or note. --Shak. 3. A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly. [Prov. Eng.] --C. Kingsley. 4. A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps. 5. pl. Same as Middlings, 1. 6. An expert. [Slang]
Sharp\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sharped; p. pr. & vb. n. Sharping.]1. To sharpen. [Obs.] --Spenser. 2. (Mus.) To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone.
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Audio Help [shahrp] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, verb, adverb, noun 
