hone

1
[ 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.

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Origin of hone

1
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

Words nearby hone

hond., honda, hondo, honduran, honduras, hone, honecker, honegger, honest, honest broker, honest injun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for honer

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