sharpen

To sharpen something means to make its edge or point sharper and more effective. A knife needs to be sharpened after use.

You often hear people talk about sharpening their pencils when they're getting ready for a test, but it's not just stationery that gets sharpened! Tools like scissors and knives need to be kept in good condition by being sharpened regularly. This means removing small amounts of material from the edge to make it more precise and useful. Some people even talk about sharpening their minds, meaning they're trying to think more clearly or focus better on a task. But for most everyday purposes, sharpening just refers to making something sharper and more functional.