Shark"er (?), n. One who lives by sharking.
Shark"ing, n. Petty rapine; trick; also, seeking a livelihood by shifts
and dishonest devices.
Shar"ock (?), n. An East Indian coin of the value of 12½ pence
sterling, or about 25 cents.
Sharp (?), a. [Compar. Sharper (?); superl. Sharpest.] [OE. sharp,
scharp, scarp, AS. scearp; akin to OS. skarp, LG. scharp, D. scherp, G.
scharf, Dan. & Sw. skarp, Icel. skarpr. Cf. Escarp, Scrape, Scorpion.]
1. Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce
easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point.
Shak.
2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat
pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
3. Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating,
acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a
sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp
sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a
sharp flash.
4. (Mus.) (a) High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone. (b)
Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C), which is a half step, or
semitone, higher than C. (c) So high as to be out of tune, or above
true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in
all these senses to flat.
5. Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful;
distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air.
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
Shak.
The morning sharp and clear.
Cowper.
In sharpest perils faithful proved.
Keble.
6. Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh;
rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke. "That sharp look." Tennyson.
To that place the sharp Athenian law Can not pursue us.
Shak.
Be thy words severe, Sharp as merits but the sword forbear.
Dryden.
7. Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice
discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye;
sharp sight, hearing, or judgment.
Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.
Addison.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the
sharpest philosophers have never ye&?; arrived at clear and
distinct ideas.