honing
Americannoun
-
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.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of honing
First recorded in 1790–1800; hone 1 + -ing 1 for the noun senses; hone 1 + -ing 2 for the adjective sense
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.
In Arctic Dolphin, sub-hunting ships and aircraft were joined by two submarines, from Norway and Germany, aboard which U.S. and Canadian officers are honing their skills.
A longer-term goal is making Japan’s economy more secure by weaning it off Chinese-centered supply chains for essential materials such as critical minerals, and honing Japan’s technological edge.
Dealing with the fear of what might happen if things go wrong is just as important for an elite Winter OIympic athlete as honing any other skill of their craft.
From BBC
I took pride in honing my new skills, especially as the difference my work was making began to show.
From Literature
Bad Bunny, 31, grew up near Puerto Rico's capital San Juan, honing his vocal skills in a church children's choir before developing into a pre-teen who loved creating beats on his computer.
From Barron's
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.
