honing

[hoh-ning]

noun

1. the act or process of sharpening something on a hone or whetstone.

   The precision alignment of the cutting machine’s knife is not affected by the honing of the sharp edge.

2. the act or process of improving or perfecting a skill, program, idea, etc..

   In the third and fourth years the emphasis is on advanced training, with further honing of skills and attainment of competency.

adjective

1. serving to sharpen or perfect.

   It is always a honing experience for us to come here and answer your questions—we leave a little sharper than we were before.

Word History and Origins

Origin of honing¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; hone ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; hone ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

They settled in Philadelphia and, as a teenager, he learned engraving and earned a living incising designs for silverware firms—no doubt honing his talent for detail.

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Eleven has been training hard, honing her powers.

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The tariff war with the U.S. has added urgency to Beijing’s goal of making China technologically autonomous and honing its manufacturing prowess.

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While most of us were still honing our fine motor skills playing with Lego bricks, the young Smith seemed to be asking big philosophical questions about life and becoming fascinated by words.

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Their club has charged into first place in the Premier League by studying, honing, and reinventing the moments when play comes to a complete standstill: free kicks, corner kicks, and penalties.

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