hone

¹

[ hohn ]

verb (used with object)

, honed, hon·ing.

1. to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect:

   to hone one's skills.

2. to sharpen on a whetstone with a fine, compact texture:

   to hone a carving knife.

3. to enlarge or finish (a hole) using a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip.

noun

1. a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.
2. a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.

hone

²

[ hohn ]

verb (used without object)

, honed, hon·ing.

1. South Midland and Southern U.S. to yearn; long:

   to hone for the farm life; to hone after peach pie.

2. Archaic. to moan and groan.

hone

¹

/ həʊn /

verb

1. often foll byfor or after to yearn or pine
2. to moan or grieve

hone

²

/ həʊn /

noun

1. a fine whetstone, esp for sharpening razors
2. a tool consisting of a number of fine abrasive slips held in a machine head, rotated and reciprocated to impart a smooth finish to cylinder bores, etc

verb

1. tr to sharpen or polish with or as if with a hone

Usage

Hone is sometimes wrongly used where home is meant: this device makes it easier to home in on (not hone in on ) the target

Other Words From

• hon·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hone¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English noun hone, hain “whetstone”; Old English hān “stone, boundary stone, rock”; cognate with Old Norse hein “hone”; akin to cone

Origin of hone²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Anglo-French honer (unrecorded); Old French hogner “to grumble, growl,” from Germanic; compare Old Saxon hōnian “to abuse, revile”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hone¹

C17: from Old French hogner to growl, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German hōnen to revile

Origin of hone²

Old English hān stone; related to Old Norse hein

Example Sentences

You might want to hone your keyword research skills for the best possible outcome.

From Search Engine Watch

Moreover, thinking of your content and your site overall from a brand authority perspective naturally hones your topical focus.

From Search Engine Watch

There were no magic tricks — just discipline, attention to detail and well-honed ball movement.

From Washington Post

As she honed this approach, Shanti’s food took off at Benne on Eagle, garnering the praise of Asheville locals, critics and fellow chefs.

From Ozy

That’s a skill set she honed at Walmart, during a decade-long tenure that included running Sam’s Club, the company’s warehouse club business.

From Fortune

Each poet needs only learn to hear his own voice, and hone it, and present it.

From The Daily Beast

Then in 2007 he had joined the pro-Kremlin, pro “Eurasian” youth group, Nashi, to hone his militancy.

From The Daily Beast

Kennan had a passionate, lifelong interest in the craft of writing, and the diary was clearly a place to hone his craft.

From The Daily Beast

Since then, Jay has continued to methodically hone his technique and mentor a handful of candidates.

From The Daily Beast

Richardson says that his frothy, buttered coffee is “the best part of his morning,” helping him “hone in on important tasks.”

From The Daily Beast

I hone them once a week, and well-nigh shed tears because of the good work they ought to be doing.

From Project Gutenberg

The knife should be sharpened from time to time on the stone or hone.

From Project Gutenberg

This gentleman confided the story to Mr. Hone, who has published an explanation of the mystery.

From Project Gutenberg

The design invented by the sculptor at Sutton at Hone, near Dartford, is less original and also less striking.

From Project Gutenberg

Bank Restriction Note (Hone is said to have realised over 700 by the sale of this shocker), 28.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• whet