sharp
UK: ʃɑːp | US: ʃɑːrp
adj. having a thin edge or fine point; capable of cutting or piercing
adj. keenly perceptive or intelligent
adj. abrupt or angular in outline or shape
adj. (of sound) high-pitched and piercing
n. a musical note raised by a semitone
The word "sharp" originates from Old English scearp, meaning "cutting, keen, pointed," derived from Proto-Germanic skarpaz. Its root is tied to the Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning "to cut," which also gave rise to words like "shear" and "scissors." Over time, "sharp" expanded metaphorically to describe mental acuity ("sharp mind") and auditory pitch ("sharp note"), retaining its core idea of intensity or precision.
Be careful with that knife—it’s very sharp.
She has a sharp wit and always delivers clever comebacks.
The mountain peaks stood sharp against the sky.
The violinist played a sharp note that echoed through the hall.
C# (C sharp) is a common musical key in classical compositions.