9 ADV [n ADV ] Sharp is used after stating a particular time to show that something happens at exactly the time stated. □ She planned to unlock the store at 8.00 sharp this morning.
10 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] Sharp is used after a letter representing a musical note to show that the note should be played or sung half a tone higher. Sharp is often represented by the symbol ♯. □ A solitary viola plucks a lonely, soft F sharp.
11 → see also razor-sharp
sharp|en /ʃɑː r pən/ (sharpens , sharpening , sharpened )
1 VERB If your senses, understanding, or skills sharpen or are sharpened , you become better at noticing things, thinking, or doing something. □ [V ] Her gaze sharpened, as if she had seen something unusual. □ [V n] You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.
2 VERB If you sharpen an object, you make its edge very thin or you make its end pointed. □ [V n] He started to sharpen his knife. □ [V -ed] …sharpened pencils.
3 VERB If disagreements or differences between people sharpen , or if they are sharpened , they become bigger or more important. □ [V ] With urbanisation the antagonism between rich and poor sharpened. □ [V n] The case of Harris has sharpened the debate over capital punishment.
sharp|en|er /ʃɑː r pnə r / (sharpeners ) N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A sharpener is a tool or machine used for sharpening pencils or knives. □ …a pencil sharpener.
sha rp-eyed ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sharp-eyed person is good at noticing and observing things. □ A sharp-eyed shop assistant spotted the fake.
sharp|ish /ʃɑː r p I ʃ/ ADV [ADV after v] If you do something sharpish , you do it quickly, without any delay. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ She was asked to leave, sharpish.
sha rp pra c|tice N‑UNCOUNT You can use sharp practice to refer to an action or a way of behaving, especially in business or professional matters, that you think is clever but dishonest. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He accused some solicitors of sharp practice.
sharp|shooter /ʃɑː r pʃuːtə r / (sharpshooters ) N‑COUNT A sharpshooter is a person who can fire a gun very accurately. [AM ]
sharp to ngue (sharp tongues ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone has a sharp tongue , you are critical of the fact that they say things which are unkind though often clever. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Despite her sharp tongue, she inspires loyalty from her friends.
sha rp-to ngued ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as sharp-tongued , you are being critical of them for speaking in a way which is unkind though often clever. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Julia was a very tough, sharp-tongued woman.
shat /ʃæ t/ Shat is the past tense and past participle of shit .
shat|ter /ʃæ tə r / (shatters , shattering , shattered )
1 VERB If something shatters or is shattered , it breaks into a lot of small pieces. □ [V ] …safety glass that won't shatter if it's broken. □ [V + into ] The car shattered into a thousand burning pieces in a 200mph crash. □ [V n] One bullet shattered his skull. [Also V n into n] ● shat|ter|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the shattering of glass.
2 VERB If something shatters your dreams, hopes, or beliefs, it completely destroys them. □ [V n] A failure would shatter the hopes of many people. □ [V n] Something like that really shatters your confidence.
3 VERB If someone is shattered by an event, it shocks and upsets them very much. □ [be V -ed] He had been shattered by his son's death. □ [V n] …the tragedy which had shattered his life.
4 → see also shattered , shattering
shat|tered /ʃæ tə r d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are shattered by something, you are extremely shocked and upset about it. □ It is desperately sad news and I am absolutely shattered to hear it.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say you are shattered , you mean you are extremely tired and have no energy left. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He was shattered and too tired to concentrate on schoolwork.
shat|ter|ing /ʃæ tər I ŋ/
1 ADJ Something that is shattering shocks and upsets you very much. □ The experience of their daughter's death had been absolutely shattering.
2 → see also earth-shattering , shatter
shave /ʃe I v/ (shaves , shaving , shaved )
1 VERB When a man shaves , he removes the hair from his face using a razor or shaver so that his face is smooth. □ [V ] He took a bath and shaved before dinner. □ [V n] He had shaved his face until it was smooth. □ [V n with off ] It's a pity you shaved your moustache off. ● N‑COUNT Shave is also a noun. □ He never seemed to need a shave. ● shav|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …a range of shaving products.
2 VERB If someone shaves a part of their body, they remove the hair from it so that it is smooth. □ [V n] Many women shave their legs. □ [V n with off ] If you have long curly hair, don't shave it off.
3 VERB If you shave someone, you remove the hair from their face or another part of their body so that it is smooth. □ [V n] The doctors shaved his head. □ [V n] She had to call a barber to shave him.