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English Dictionary

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 keen keen /ˈkiːn/

adjective

  1. () Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions  ( discriminating , knifelike , penetrative , acute , incisive , keen , penetrating , piercing , sharp )
    having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
     An acute observer of politics and politicians
    an acute observer of politics and politicians
     Incisive comments
    incisive comments
     Icy knifelike reasoning
    icy knifelike reasoning
     As sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
    as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
     Penetrating insight
    penetrating insight
     Frequent penetrative observations
    frequent penetrative observations
  2. Having a sharp cutting edge or point  ( keen )
    having a sharp cutting edge or point
     A keen blade
    a keen blade
  3. Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument  ( cutting , keen , knifelike , lancinate , lancinating , piercing , stabbing )
    painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
     A cutting wind
    a cutting wind
     Keen winds
    keen winds
     Knifelike cold
    knifelike cold
     Piercing knifelike pains
    piercing knifelike pains
     Piercing cold
    piercing cold
     Piercing criticism
    piercing criticism
     A stabbing pain
    a stabbing pain
     Lancinating pain
    lancinating pain
  4. Very good  ( bang-up , corking , cracking , dandy , groovy , keen , neat , nifty , not bad , bully , great , old , peachy , slap-up , smashing , swell )
    very good
     He did a bully job
    he did a bully job
     A neat sports car
    a neat sports car
     Had a great time at the party
    had a great time at the party
     You look simply smashing
    you look simply smashing
     We had a grand old time
    we had a grand old time
  5. Intense or sharp  ( keen , exquisite )
    intense or sharp
     Suffered exquisite pain
    suffered exquisite pain
     Felt exquisite pleasure
    felt exquisite pleasure

noun

  1. A funeral lament sung with loud wailing  ( keen )
    a funeral lament sung with loud wailing
     The mourners sang a heartbreaking keen at the funeral.
    The mourners sang a heartbreaking keen at the funeral.

verb

  1. Express grief verbally  ( keen , lament )
    express grief verbally
     We lamented the death of the child
    we lamented the death of the child