Noun
sharpness (countable and uncountable, plural sharpnesses)
- (uncountable) the cutting ability of an edge; keenness.
- (uncountable) the fineness of the point a pointed object.
- (countable) The product or result of being sharp.
1950 April, Timothy H. Cobb, “The Kenya-Uganda Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 263:The first thing that strikes the stranger is the sharpness of the curves on the metre gauge; it is not unusual for a long train to be travelling in three directions at once, and the engine is frequently in full view of the windows of the ninth or tenth carriage.
- (of food etc) pungency or acidity.
- (of an image) distinctness, focus.
- (of intelligence) acuteness or acuity.
2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:A lack of match sharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes.
- (obsolete) edge or blade
1760, John Marchant, Gent. Mr. Gordon, Daniel Bellamy, and others., A New Complete English Dictionary...:CUT-WATER, or KNEE OF THE HEAD [S.] the ſharpneſs of the head of the ſhip, below the beak;
ca. 1395, John Wycliffe et al., Joshua 6:21:also thei smytiden bi the scharpnesse of swerd, oxun, and scheep, and assis.
Translations
cutting ability of an edge
Translations to be checked