sharpening

"to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note"

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

"The teacher used figurative language to explain the complex concept, saying that the student's mind was a blank slate. "

"He enunciated every syllable clearly."

"The factory produced 1000 cars last week. "

"My sometimes neighbor, a retired teacher, still visits the school occasionally. "

"That artist uses pencils made of hog bristle to create textured effects in her oil paintings. "

"to allow a servant his liberty;  to allow a free passage;  to allow one day for rest"

"We had to sit in the dark because the electric was cut off."

"to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note"

"There was a pencil sharpener at the front of the classroom."

"The school's annual musical was a huge success, with the students performing catchy songs and energetic dances. "