hone

[hohn]

See more synonyms for hone on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of hone

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

Related formshon·er, noun

hone

[hohn]

verb (used without object), honed, hon·ing.

South Midland and Southern U.S. to yearn; long: to hone for the farm life; to hone after peach pie.
Archaic. to moan and groan.

Origin of hone

1590–1600; < Anglo-French *honer; Old French hogner to grumble, growl < Germanic; compare Old Saxon hōnian to abuse, revile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for honing

whet, acuminate, edge, file, grind

Examples from the Web for honing

Contemporary Examples of honing

I believe in being aware of your creative process and honing it.
How I Write: Julianna Baggott
Noah Charney
February 12, 2014
The PA has also been channeling Anonymous and honing its hacking skills.
Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, Mahmoud Abbas Has Got to Go
Maysoon Zayid
December 3, 2013
But rather than honing in on the present (Mrs. Obama included), the designer is focused on the bigger picture instead.
Thom Browne’s Women’s Line Evolves in the Wake of Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Ensemble
Misty White Sidell
February 12, 2013
For most young men and women in fashion, honing a distinctive voice is, perhaps, the most difficult hurdle to building a business.
Milan Fashion Week’s Big Finale: Versace and Dolce & Gabbana Wow, While Armani Falls Short
Robin Givhan
February 27, 2012
For his part, Newt Gingrich has clearly been honing his persona as condescending, arch, snide Big Thinker.
Rick Perry Unleashes His Inner Cowboy in Fox News Debate
Michelle Cottle
January 17, 2012

Historical Examples of honing

He was keen for the open stretches, honing to be gone down the wind.
Tharon of Lost Valley
Vingie E. Roe
For that matter, I shouldnt wonder if you were honing to get rid of me.
Baseball Joe, Captain of the Team
Lester Chadwick
This cannot be done by stropping, but is accomplished only by the process known as honing.
Shaving Made Easy
Anonymous
We venture to assert, however, that honing a razor is at least as easy as stropping it.
Shaving Made Easy
Anonymous
If the honing be carried too far, a wire edge will be produced, and this must be removed.
Shaving Made Easy
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for honing

hone

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

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

hone

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

Word Origin and History for honing

hone

"whetstone," Old English han "stone, rock, (boundary) stone," in Middle English "whetstone" (early 14c.), from Proto-Germanic *haino (cf. Old Norse hein "hone"). The verb is 1788, from the noun. Related: Honed; honing.