sharpensharp•en /'ʃɑːp(ə)n/

vt

1. 削尖；磨快

• sharpen a knife 磨刀

• Sharpen all your pencils before the test. 考前把你所有的铅笔削尖。

2. 使强烈，加剧

• His words sharpened their differences. 他的话加深了他们的分歧。

• The strike sharpened the government's dilemma. 罢工加深了政府的困境。

3. 使清晰；使敏锐

• sharpen one's wits 使某人头脑敏锐

词组sharpen up

1. 使更强烈

• The book sharpens up his desire for knowledge. 这本书增进了他对知识的渴望。

2. 使更严厉

• The law was sharpened up by the amendment. 法律因修正而变得更加严厉。