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plural hones
A sharpening stone composed of extra-fine grit used for removing the burr or curl from the blade of a razor or some other edge tool. examples
A machine tool used in the manufacture of precision bores. examples
third-person singular simple present hones, present participle honing, simple past and past participle honed
To sharpen with a hone; to whet. examples
To use a hone to produce a precision bore. examples
To refine or master (a skill). quotations examples
He also honed the procedure known as cut and fill - whereby the spoil from railway cuttings was used to build up embankments.
2023 August 23, David E Norris, “Joseph Locke: a railway injustice...”, in RAIL, number 990, page 56
To make more acute, intense, or effective. examples
A kind of swelling in the cheek. examples
(UK, US, Southern US, dialect) To grumble. quotations examples
Such tunges ſhuld be torne out by the harde rootes,Hoyning like hogges that groynis and wrotes.
c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.
(UK, US, Southern US, dialect) To pine, lament, or long. quotations examples
He lies pitying himself, honing and moaning to himself
1823, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], Elia. Essays which have Appeared under that Signature in The London Magazine, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […]
Synonym of alas Used to express sorrow, or grief quotations examples
Oh, hone! oh, hone! miserable wretch that I am! Do ye mak confession for me, Sir, and I'll say 't after you, as weel as I dow. Oh, hone! oh, hone!
1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, Act 4, page 141