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To give a keen edge or fine point to; to make sharper; as, to sharpen an ax, or the teeth of a saw.

A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.

To sharpen; to make pungent; to quicken. [Obs.] "[To] acuate the blood." Harvey.

Act of sharpening. [R.]

The act of sharpening. [Obs.]

A sharpening; termination in a sharp point; a tapering point. Bp. Pearson.

An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

A bar of iron sharpened at one end, and used as a lever.

or edge directed up stream, in order better to resist the action of water, ice, etc.; the sharpened upper end of the pier itself.

separate parts which make up such a tool. Cutting die (Mech.), a thin, deep steel frame, sharpened to a cutting edge, for cutting out articles from leather, cloth, paper, etc. -- The die is cast, the hazard must be run; the step is taken, and it is too late to draw back; the last chance is taken.

waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing. Matt. xiii. 15. O, help my weak wit and sharpen my dull tongue. Spenser.

To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen. To edge her champion's sword. Dryden.

To put to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the body.

A putting to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the body.

To whet or sharpen. [Obs.] B. Jonson. -- Ex*ac`u*a"tion, n. [Obs.]

To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file; as, to file a saw or a tooth.

Sharpened to a point; pointed. Cross fitché, a cross having the lower arm pointed.

To roughen or sharpen, as the nail heads or calks of horseshoes, so as to fit them for frosty weather.

To wear down, polish, or sharpen, by friction; to make smooth, sharp, or pointed; to whet, as a knife or drill; to rub against one another, as teeth, etc.

A flat, circular stone, revolving on an axle, for grinding or sharpening tools, or shaping or smoothing objects. To hold, pat, or bring one's nose to the grindstone, to oppress one; to keep one in a condition of servitude. They might be ashamed, for lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedæmonians to hold their noses to th…