Sharpen (verb)

1. Make something sharp or sharper.
2. Increase the keenness of something.
3. Improve or refine something.
4. Make something more intense or extreme.

Origin:

The word "sharpen" comes from the old english word "scearpian" which means to make sharp or keen.

Examples:

1. I need to sharpen my knife before I can use it.
2. He sharpened the pencil with a pencil sharpener.
3. The company is trying to sharpen its competitive edge.
4. She sharpened her focus on her studies.
5. The new policy will sharpen the penalties for offenders.