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hone1 definition

hone (hōn)

noun

a fine-grained, hard stone used to sharpen cutting tools

Etymology: ME < OE han, a stone, akin to ON hein, a hone < IE base *ko(i)-, to sharpen, whet > L cos, whetstone, cotes, sharp rock, Gr kōnos, cone

transitive verb honed, honing hon′·ing

  1. to sharpen with or as with a hone
  2. Mech. to enlarge or smooth (a bore) to exact specifications with a rotating stick (honing stone) containing abrasive material

Related Forms:

hone2 definition

hone (hōn)

intransitive verb honed, honing hon′·ing

  1. to yearn; long
  2. to grumble; moan

Etymology: ME honen < NormFr honer < OFr houir, to disgrace (< Frank *haunjan, to scorn, insult, akin to OE hean, wretched) < IE base *kau-, to humiliate > Latvian kauns, disgrace; sense infl. by OFr hognier, to grumble, prob. of echoic orig.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

hone Synonyms

hone

v.

point, smooth, set; see sharpen 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

hone Usage Examples

Object

  • skill: Camps offer a chance to hone skills in horse riding, or football, or event to study for exams.

Modifying Another Word

  • really: I did some DJ-ing in my spare time, but didn't have enough time to practice and really hone my skills.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: Hone up on some real footie trivia to bore or dazzle your friends.

Modifying Another Word

  • finely: Watching the world around you isn't a finely honed skill; it's more like flicking on a light switch.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • down: The slabs have honed down to a mellow soft color.

Preposition: by

  • year: Its public order tactics honed by years of experience are the envy of the world.
hone usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"hone." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/hone>

APA Style

hone. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/hone

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