sharpness
/ˈʃɑːpnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʃɑːrpnəs/ (ame, ipa)
sharpness — noun
1. the quality of a blade, tool, or point that lets it cut through materials or pie
the quality of a blade, tool, or point that lets it cut through materials or pierce surfaces with little effort.
Kwame tested the sharpness of the kitchen knife by slicing a ripe tomato.
the sharpness of [tool] + testing context
The sharpness of the scissors made cutting the thick fabric easy for Wei.
Yuki checked the sharpness of her pencil before the drawing exam began.
Good chefs know that the sharpness of a blade affects the quality of the cut.
The sharpness of the needle let Fatima push it through the leather easily.
文法句型
the sharpness of [noun phrase]
用法筆記
The most concrete meaning; typically paired with physical tools such as knives, scissors, blades, and needles. Not used for abstract concepts like intelligence.
常見錯誤
2. a way of speaking or writing that is severe, critical, and likely to upset the p
a way of speaking or writing that is severe, critical, and likely to upset the person being addressed.
The sharpness in Elena's voice told her colleagues she was very angry.
the sharpness in [possessive] voice
Javier tried not to show how much the sharpness of the review upset him.
Ingrid replied with a sharpness that nobody had heard from her before.
The sharpness of the teacher's criticism made the student feel embarrassed.
There was a surprising sharpness in his tone during the meeting.
- gentleness
kind and soft manner of speaking
- mildness
not strong or extreme in expression
文法句型
the sharpness of [possessive] voice/tone/words
用法筆記
Describes the manner of expression, not the person. 'Her words had sharpness' is correct, but 'She is sharpness' is not. Compare with sense 5 (INTELLIGENCE), which uses 'sharpness' to describe a quick mind.
常見錯誤
3. the quality of cold air, wind, or frost that feels biting or painful against the
the quality of cold air, wind, or frost that feels biting or painful against the skin.
The sharpness of the winter wind cut through Dmitri's heavy coat.
the sharpness of the [weather noun]
Hassan could feel the sharpness of the early morning frost on his cheeks.
The sharpness of the mountain air surprised Linh when she stepped outside the cabin.
Even with thick gloves on, the sharpness of the cold made walking difficult.
- biting cold
more descriptive and colloquial; emphasises the painful sensation
- bite
colloquial noun as in 'the bite of the wind'
- nip
informal, suggesting a milder cold
文法句型
the sharpness of the [wind/frost/air/cold]
用法筆記
Restricted to weather contexts — wind, frost, cold air. Not used for cold objects or cold drinks. 'The sharpness of the ice cube' would be sense 1 (physical edge), not this sense.
4. how clearly defined something is, making it easy to see, hear, or think about —
how clearly defined something is, making it easy to see, hear, or think about — for example, a crisp photograph, a distinct sound, or a focused way of thinking.
The sharpness of the old photograph surprised everyone at the exhibition.
the sharpness of [image]
Amara adjusted the focus ring to improve the sharpness of the camera image.
The sharpness of the audio recording made every word easy to understand.
After a good night of rest, the sharpness of her thinking returned completely.
The sharpness of the TV picture improved after Wei installed the new cable.
- clarity
broader term; sharpness emphasises crispness more than clarity does
- definition
technical term for visual sharpness in photography and optics
- crispness
colloquial, often used for images, sounds, and fresh food
- blurriness
lack of clear visual definition
- fuzziness
lack of clear edges in an image or sound
文法句型
the sharpness of [image/picture/sound/mind]
用法筆記
Covers three domains: visual (photographs, screens), audio (recordings, broadcasts), and mental (thinking, memory). Unlike sense 5 (INTELLIGENCE), this sense focuses on clarity and definition rather than mental speed.
常見錯誤
5. how quickly and accurately someone notices details, grasps ideas, and understand
how quickly and accurately someone notices details, grasps ideas, and understands things that are not obvious to other people.
The teacher was impressed by the sharpness of Kwame's questions in class.
the sharpness of [possessive] questions/observations
Mei-Lin's mental sharpness made her a strong player in chess competitions.
Age had not reduced the sharpness of Grandmother's memory at all.
The debate showed the sharpness of both students' understanding of the topic.
Fatima solved the puzzle in two minutes, and everyone praised her sharpness.
文法句型
[possessive] mental sharpness
the sharpness of [possessive] mind
用法筆記
Emphasises mental speed and perceptiveness rather than accumulated knowledge. Distinct from sense 4 (CLARITY) — this sense is about how quickly someone grasps things, not whether their thinking is clear.
常見錯誤
6. how quick, precise, and skilful someone's physical movements are, especially in
how quick, precise, and skilful someone's physical movements are, especially in sports or hands-on activities.
The tennis coach admired the sharpness of Javier's reflexes at the net.
the sharpness of [possessive] reflexes/movements
Yuki's physical sharpness on the basketball court earned her a place on the team.
The dancer trained every morning to maintain the sharpness of her movements.
A goalkeeper needs both sharpness of reflexes and good decision-making skills.
- agility
focuses on ability to move quickly and change direction
- nimbleness
suggests lightness and quickness of movement
- quickness
simpler and more general; can apply to both mind and body
- clumsiness
lack of skill in physical movement
- sluggishness
slow and lacking energy in movement
文法句型
[possessive] physical sharpness
用法筆記
Common in sports commentary and coaching contexts. Often paired with nouns like 'reflexes', 'movements', 'reactions'. Not used for mental quickness (see sense 5).
7. a strong, sour, or slightly bitter quality in food, drink, or smell that creates
a strong, sour, or slightly bitter quality in food, drink, or smell that creates a clear and often pleasant biting sensation on the tongue or in the nose.
The sharpness of the lemon made Wei pucker his lips.
the sharpness of [food item]
Elena loved the sharpness of aged cheddar on her pasta.
The sharpness of the vinegar gave the salad dressing a pleasant kick.
Hassan could smell the sharpness of the spices before he opened the kitchen door.
This cheese has a pleasant sharpness that goes well with sweet fruit.
文法句型
the sharpness of [food/drink/smell]
用法筆記
Typical with citrus fruits, vinegar, aged cheese, strong spices, and fermented foods. Can describe smell as well as taste. A positive quality when describing strong cheeses or citrus, but can be negative for spoiled food.
常見錯誤
8. the quality of a physical pain or an emotion that comes on suddenly and feels ve
the quality of a physical pain or an emotion that comes on suddenly and feels very strong, as if it is cutting or piercing.
A sudden sharpness in Dmitri's back made him stop lifting the box.
sharpness in [body part] for sudden pain
The sharpness of Ingrid's grief surprised her weeks after the funeral.
The sharpness of the pain in his knee told the doctor about the injury.
Amara felt the sharpness of disappointment when the flight was cancelled.
Time had softened the sharpness of her sadness after losing her home.
文法句型
the sharpness of [pain/grief/sadness/disappointment]
用法筆記
Common in medical and emotional contexts. Often collocates with verbs like 'feel', 'soften', 'ease'. Time is a typical subject when describing how this sharpness fades ('Time softened the sharpness of...').