a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools.
2.
a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions.
verb (used with object), honed, honing.
3.
to sharpen on a hone:
to hone a carving knife.
4.
to enlarge or finish (a hole) with a hone.
5.
to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect:
to hone one's skills.
Origin
before 950;Middle English (noun); Old Englishhān stone, rock; cognate with Old Norsehein hone; akin to cone
Related forms
honer, noun
hone2
[hohn] /hoʊn/
verb (used without object), honed, honing.
1.
South Midland and Southern U.S. to yearn; long:
to hone for the farm life; to hone after peach pie.
2.
Archaic. to moan and groan.
Origin
1590-1600; < Anglo-French*honer;Old Frenchhogner to grumble, growl < Germanic; compare Old Saxonhōnian to abuse, revile
Examples from the web for hone
It took him about 15 years to hone his instrumental skills.
The course enables participants to explore backcountry terrain and hone survival skills.
Louie could be a compelling novelist--if only she would hone her storytelling techniques.
But the team is trying to hone the method.
The well-deserved encouragement he received led him to hone his recollections for the theater.
Presenting concepts realistically may improve learning, and hone other skills as well, like attention span.
Insurers are having to hone their investment-management skills if they are to compete in this new environment.
Use the experience to broaden and hone your teaching skills.
Jared played saxophone, and his parents enrolled him in jazz classes to help him hone his skills.
Over the nine years, he has been able to play a wider range of emotions and hone his skills.
British Dictionary definitions for hone
hone1
/həʊn/
noun
1.
a fine whetstone, esp for sharpening razors
2.
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
3.
(transitive) to sharpen or polish with or as if with a hone
Usage note
Hone is sometimes wrongly used where home is meant: this device makes it easier to home in on (not hone in on) the target
Word Origin
Old English hān stone; related to Old Norse hein
hone2
/həʊn/
verb (intransitive) (dialect)
1.
often foll by for or after. to yearn or pine
2.
to moan or grieve
Word Origin
C17: from Old French hogner to growl, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German hōnen to revile
Word Origin and History for hone
n.
"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.