Thesaurus: whet

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Definitions

1. v. t. To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife.
2. v. t. To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite or the courage.
3. n. The act of whetting.
4. n. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer.
5. v. make keen or more acute
6. v. sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
7. 1. To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife. The mower whets his scythe. Milton. Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak. Byron. 2. To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite or the courage. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Shak. To whet on, To whet forward, to urge on or forward; to instigate. Shak. 1. The act of whetting. 2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. "Sips, drams, and whets." Spectator. Whet slate (Min.), a variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; novaculite; -- called also whetstone slate, and oilstone.
8. v:100 v. make keen or more acute v. sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone