Pronunciation: [ʃˈɑːpənə] (IPA) 
The word "sharpener" is spelled as /ˈʃɑːpənər/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced as "shahrp" with an elongated "a" sound followed by an "r" sound. The second syllable is pronounced as "puhn" with a short "u" sound and an "n" sound. The final syllable is pronounced as "er" with a schwa sound and an "r" sound. The word refers to an object used to sharpen pencil, knife or other tools.
A sharpener refers to a device or tool designed to restore the sharpness or refine the cutting edge of various objects such as pencils, knives, blades, or tools. Its main purpose is to remove any blunt or dull edges by grinding or honing them, enabling the object to regain its original functionality and effectiveness.
Typically, a pencil sharpener is a small, handheld or desktop device specifically used to sharpen the tip of a graphite or colored pencil. It consists of a cylindrical or conical opening into which the pencil is inserted. As the pencil is rotated against the sharpening mechanism, the blade within the sharpener shaves off the wooden casing while simultaneously forming a crisp and pointed graphite tip.
In the case of knives, a sharpener can include various tools such as sharpening stones, honing rods, or pull-through sharpeners. These tools are specifically designed to remove any nicks or blunt areas along the blade's edge by grinding or realigning the metal, allowing for efficient slicing, cutting, or chopping.
Moreover, a sharpener can also be used for tools such as scissors, gardening shears, chisels, or other bladed devices. These may employ different sharpening techniques depending on the specific tool and the desired outcome.
Overall, a sharpener is an invaluable tool for maintaining the functionality and performance of objects with cutting edges, ensuring they remain keen, precise, and efficient in their respective applications.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sharpener" is derived from the verb "sharpen" which originated from the combination of two Old English words. The first part is "scieran" meaning "to cut", and the second part is "pen" derived from "pinnian" meaning "to make sharp". Over time, these two words merged to form "sharpen" which refers to the action of making something sharp. The noun form "sharpener" emerged from this verb and is used to denote a device or tool used for sharpening pencils, knives, or any other objects.
