hone

[ hohn ]

/ hoʊn /

noun

a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.

a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.

verb (used with object), honed, hon·ing.

to sharpen on a hone: to hone a carving knife.

to enlarge or finish (a hole) with a hone.

to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect: to hone one's skills.

Words nearby hone

hond., honda, hondo, honduran, honduras, hone, honecker, honegger, honest, honest broker, honest injun

Origin of hone

before 950; Middle English (noun); Old English hān stone, rock; cognate with Old Norse hein hone; akin to cone

OTHER WORDS FROM hone

hon·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for honer

I do, your honer, jist for my wife's mother, ye see; but I live down towards Cash.
The Macdermots of Ballycloran|Anthony Trollope
For nothing at all, your honer: that's just it; but ould Kennyfeck put him up to it.
Roland Cashel|Charles James Lever
The Captain brought his weapon up to the salute, and said, "Major, the honer is moine; I'm deloighted to see ye."
The History of Pendennis|William Makepeace Thackeray
"It ain't bein' a crowned head, but it's honer'ble," pleaded the sick man, continuing the conversation.
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day

But his genius won him world praise, and later, honer in his own country.
Historic Fredericksburg|John T. Goolrick

British Dictionary definitions for honer (1 of 2)

hone¹

/ (həʊn) /

noun

a fine whetstone, esp for sharpening razors

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

(tr) to sharpen or polish with or as if with a hone

Word Origin for hone

Old English hān stone; related to Old Norse hein

usage for hone

Hone is sometimes wrongly used where home is meant: this device makes it easier to home in on (not hone in on) the target

British Dictionary definitions for honer (2 of 2)

hone²

/ (həʊn) /

verb (intr) dialect

(often foll by for or after) to yearn or pine

to moan or grieve

Word Origin for hone

C17: from Old French hogner to growl, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German hōnen to revile

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012