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Oxford Spanish Dictionary

English
English
Spanish
Spanish

sharpen [Am ˈʃɑrpən, Brit ˈʃɑːp(ə)n] VB trans

1. sharpen knife/blade/claws:

sharpen
afilar
to sharpen a pencil
sacarle punta a un lápiz

2. sharpen (make keener):

sharpen feeling/interest
agudizar
sharpen feeling/interest
avivar
sharpen appetite
abrir

3. sharpen Brit MUS → sharp

See also

sharp4 VB trans Am MUS

sharp
elevar el tono de una nota

I. sharp1 <sharper sharpest> [Am ʃɑrp, Brit ʃɑːp] ADJ

1.1. sharp:

sharp knife/edge/scissors
afilado
sharp knife/edge/scissors
filoso LatAm
sharp knife/edge/scissors
filudo Chil Peru
sharp features
anguloso
sharp features
muy marcado
the sharp edge
el filo
it has a sharp point
es muy puntiagudo
have you got a sharper pencil?
¿tienes un lápiz con más punta?
at the sharp end Brit
en la línea de combate

1.2. sharp pain:

sharp
agudo
sharp
fuerte

1.3. sharp:

sharp wind
cortante
sharp frost
crudo
sharp frost
fuerte

1.4. sharp:

sharp noise/cry
agudo
sharp crack
seco

1.5. sharp taste:

sharp
ácido
a sharp cheese
un queso fuerte or muy curado

2.1. sharp (abrupt, steep):

sharp bend/angle
cerrado
sharp turn
brusco
sharp rise/fall/descent
brusco

2.2. sharp (sudden):

sharp
repentino
sharp
súbito

3.1. sharp (keen):

sharp eyesight
agudo
sharp eyesight
bueno
sharp hearing
fino
sharp hearing
agudo
sharp hearing
bueno
keep a sharp lookout
mantén los ojos bien abiertos
keep a sharp eye on those two over there
no les quites el ojo de encima a esos dos de ahí
he's got a sharp nose for business
tiene mucho ojo para los negocios
the article takes a sharp look at the world of finance
el artículo hace un penetrante or perspicaz análisis del mundo de las finanzas

3.2. sharp (acute):

sharp wit/mind
agudo
sharp wit/mind
perspicaz
he's very sharp for his age
es muy despierto or avispado para su edad

3.3. sharp (intense):

sharp desire
intenso
sharp desire
fuerte
sharp urge
imperioso
sharp regret
hondo
sharp regret
profundo
competition is sharp
hay una intensa competencia

4. sharp (clear, unblurred):

sharp photo/TV picture
nítido
sharp outline
definido
sharp impression
claro
sharp contrast/distinction
marcado
this has brought the divisions in the country into sharp focus
esto ha puesto de relieve las divisiones existentes en el país

5. sharp (harsh, severe):

sharp rebuke/criticism
duro
sharp rebuke/criticism
severo
sharp retort
cortante
sharp retort
áspero
to have a sharp tongue
ser muy mordaz
to have a sharp tongue
tener una lengua muy afilada

6.1. sharp (clever, shrewd):

sharp person
listo
sharp person
astuto
sharp person
vivo inf
sharp move
astuto

6.2. sharp (elegant) inf:

he's a sharp dresser
tiene mucho estilo para vestirse

7.1. sharp MUS (referring to key):

sharp
sostenido

7.2. sharp MUS (too high):

you're sharp
estás desafinando (por cantar o tocar demasiado alto)

II. sharp1 [Am ʃɑrp, Brit ʃɑːp] ADV

1. sharp (exactly):

at six o'clock sharp
a las seis en punto

2. sharp (abruptly):

turn sharp right
gire a la derecha en curva cerrada
to pull up sharp
pararse en seco
look sharp Brit inf
¡acelera! inf
look sharp Brit inf
¡date prisa!
look sharp Brit inf
¡apúrate! LatAm

3. sharp MUS:

to sing/play sharp
cantar/tocar demasiado alto

III. sharp1 [Am ʃɑrp, Brit ʃɑːp] N

1.1. sharp MUS (note):

sharp
sostenido m
sharp
diesi(s) f

1.2. sharp MUS (sign):

sharp
sostenido m

2. sharp Am → sharper

I. sharpen up VB [Am ˈʃɑrpən -, Brit ˈʃɑːp(ə)n -] (v + adv) inf

sharpen up
espabilarse inf
sharpen up
avivarse LatAm inf
sharpen up
apiolarse RioPl inf
come on, sharpen up!
¡vamos, espabílate (or avívate etc.)! inf
they were told to sharpen up or risk losing orders
se les dijo que hicieran las cosas como Dios manda or se arriesgaban a perder pedidos

II. sharpen up VB [Am ˈʃɑrpən -, Brit ˈʃɑːp(ə)n -] (v + adv + o, v + o + adv)

1. sharpen up pencil:

sharpen up
sacarle punta a

2. sharpen up inf skills/processes:

sharpen up
pulir
to sharpen one's wits
aguzar el ingenio
Spanish
Spanish
English
English
tajar
to sharpen
afilar
to sharpen
agudizar sentido
to sharpen
ha agudizado su olfato para estas cosas
she's sharpened up her instinct for this sort of thing
aguzar
to sharpen
tendrá que aguzar la inteligencia para resolverlo
she'll have to sharpen up if she's going to find a solution
agilizar
to sharpen
agilizarse pensamiento/mente
to sharpen up
afinar
to sharpen
le voy a dar filo
I'm going to sharpen it

in the PONS Dictionary

English
English
Spanish
Spanish

sharpen [ˈʃɑ:pən, Am ˈʃɑ:r-] VB trans

1. sharpen:

sharpen blade
afilar
sharpen pencil
sacar punta a

2. sharpen (intensify):

sharpen
agudizar
sharpen mind
aguzar
sharpen appetite
abrir
in the PONS Dictionary
English
English
Spanish
Spanish

sharpen [ˈʃar·pən] VB trans

1. sharpen:

sharpen blade
afilar
sharpen pencil
sacar punta a

2. sharpen (intensify):

sharpen
agudizar
sharpen mind
aguzar
sharpen appetite
abrir
Spanish
Spanish
English
English
agudizar
to sharpen
aguzar
to sharpen
aguzar los sentidos
to sharpen one's senses
afinar (lápiz)
to sharpen
afinar la puntería
to sharpen one's aim
afilar
to sharpen
atejonarse
to sharpen (up)
tajar
to sharpen
avivar (sentidos)
to sharpen
vaciar
to sharpen
sacar punta (afilar)
to sharpen
Present
Isharpen
yousharpen
he/she/itsharpens
wesharpen
yousharpen
theysharpen
Past
Isharpened
yousharpened
he/she/itsharpened
wesharpened
yousharpened
theysharpened
Present Perfect
Ihavesharpened
youhavesharpened
he/she/ithassharpened
wehavesharpened
youhavesharpened
theyhavesharpened
Past Perfect
Ihadsharpened
youhadsharpened
he/she/ithadsharpened
wehadsharpened
youhadsharpened
theyhadsharpened
See further verb tables