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1 VERB If your senses, understanding, or skills sharpen or are sharpened , you become better at noticing things, thinking, or doing something. □ [V ] Her gaze sharpened, as if she had seen something unusual. □ [V n] You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.

2 VERB If you sharpen an object, you make its edge very thin or you make its end pointed. □ [V n] He started to sharpen his knife. □ [V -ed] …sharpened pencils.

3 VERB If disagreements or differences between people sharpen , or if they are sharpened , they become bigger or more important. □ [V ] With urbanisation the antagonism between rich and poor sharpened. □ [V n] The case of Harris has sharpened the debate over capital punishment.

sharp|en|er /ʃɑː ^r pnə ^r / (sharpeners ) N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A sharpener is a tool or machine used for sharpening pencils or knives. □  …a pencil sharpener.

sha rp-eyed ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sharp-eyed person is good at noticing and observing things. □  A sharp-eyed shop assistant spotted the fake.

sharp|ish /ʃɑː ^r p I ʃ/ ADV [ADV after v] If you do something sharpish , you do it quickly, without any delay. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  She was asked to leave, sharpish.

sha rp pra c|tice N‑UNCOUNT You can use sharp practice to refer to an action or a way of behaving, especially in business or professional matters, that you think is clever but dishonest. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  He accused some solicitors of sharp practice.

sharp|shooter /ʃɑː ^r pʃuːtə ^r / (sharpshooters ) N‑COUNT A sharpshooter is a person who can fire a gun very accurately. [AM ]

sharp to ngue (sharp tongues ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone has a sharp tongue , you are critical of the fact that they say things which are unkind though often clever. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Despite her sharp tongue, she inspires loyalty from her friends.

sha rp-to ngued ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as sharp-tongued , you are being critical of them for speaking in a way which is unkind though often clever. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Julia was a very tough, sharp-tongued woman.

shat /ʃæ t/ Shat is the past tense and past participle of shit .

shat|ter /ʃæ tə ^r / (shatters , shattering , shattered )

1 VERB If something shatters or is shattered , it breaks into a lot of small pieces. □ [V ] …safety glass that won't shatter if it's broken. □ [V + into ] The car shattered into a thousand burning pieces in a 200mph crash. □ [V n] One bullet shattered his skull. [Also V n into n] ●  shat|ter|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the shattering of glass.

2 VERB If something shatters your dreams, hopes, or beliefs, it completely destroys them. □ [V n] A failure would shatter the hopes of many people. □ [V n] Something like that really shatters your confidence.

3 VERB If someone is shattered by an event, it shocks and upsets them very much. □ [be V -ed] He had been shattered by his son's death. □ [V n] …the tragedy which had shattered his life.

4 → see also shattered , shattering

shat|tered /ʃæ tə ^r d/

1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are shattered by something, you are extremely shocked and upset about it. □  It is desperately sad news and I am absolutely shattered to hear it.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say you are shattered , you mean you are extremely tired and have no energy left. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □  He was shattered and too tired to concentrate on schoolwork.

shat|ter|ing /ʃæ tər I ŋ/

1 ADJ Something that is shattering shocks and upsets you very much. □  The experience of their daughter's death had been absolutely shattering.

2 → see also earth-shattering , shatter