hone

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To improve a skill or ability over time through practice.

   She spent years honing her skills as a writer.

2. 2
   verb

   To sharpen a blade with a special stone.

   He honed the knife until it could slice paper.

3. 3
   noun

   A fine stone used to sharpen the edge of a blade.

   The barber ran the razor across the hone.

From Middle English hon (“whetstone”), from Old English hān, from Proto-Germanic *hainō (compare Dutch heen, Norwegian hein), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱeh₃i- (“to sharpen”) (compare Ancient Greek κῶνος (kônos, “cone”), Persian سان (sân, “whetstone”)).

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