hone
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.
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a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.
verb (used without object)
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South Midland and Southern U.S. to yearn; long.
to hone for the farm life; to hone after peach pie.
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Archaic. to moan and groan.
noun
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a fine whetstone, esp for sharpening razors
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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
verb
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to yearn or pine
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to moan or grieve
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 Word Forms
- honer noun
Etymology
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chan said that while Chinese labs clearly use distillation as a tool to hone their models, it’s likely not the only reason for their advancements.
From MarketWatch
Rasheed can do a pretty great British accent and boasts a relaxed and natural confidence honed from starring in his own comedy skits on YouTube.
From Los Angeles Times
The new tools compelled students to interact and gave them feedback they can use to hone those skills.
What is not as well known is his involvement in founding the "street leagues", which helped hone the skills of some of the best players in the history of both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
From BBC
As the company makes the transition, it will hone in on customers on its pro plan and higher subscription tiers, as the free tier is operationally expensive, it said.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
