HONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hone mean? 

• HONE (noun)
  The noun HONE has 1 sense:

1. a whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors

  Familiarity information: HONE used as a noun is very rare.

• HONE (verb)
  The verb HONE has 2 senses:

1. sharpen with a hone

2. make perfect or complete

  Familiarity information: HONE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HONE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("hone" is a kind of...):

whetstone (a flat stone for sharpening edged tools or knives)

Derivation:

hone (sharpen with a hone)

• HONE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hone    ... he / she / it hones   
Past simple: honed   
Past participle: honed   
-ing form: honing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sharpen with a hone

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

hone a knife

Hypernyms (to "hone" is one way to...):

sharpen (make sharp or sharper)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hone"):

set (give a fine, sharp edge to a knife or razor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

hone (a whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make perfect or complete

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

hone; perfect

Context example:

perfect your French in Paris!

Hypernyms (to "hone" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hone"):

optimise; optimize (make optimal; get the most out of; use best)

brush up; polish; polish up; round; round off (bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Said another way, this trend will bring intellectual growth and help you hone your communication.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

If you have honed your skills, be brave, and show your ideas to influential people so you can have them funded and launched.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)