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

Homicide detectives honed in on the boy’s father shortly after the shooting on the night of Nov. 30 in the 15000 block of South Haskins Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times

The venues that are closing or struggling to stay open are the types of places where Charli XCX honed her craft.

From BBC

To identify and hone in on a particular community, it helps to be a part of it.

From Los Angeles Times

At 58, Clarence Maclin might be new to the big screen, but the formerly incarcerated stage performer turned movie actor has spent decades honing his chops.

From Los Angeles Times

“He had honed his skills and was totally ready. And he is just a hell of a coach.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• whet