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hone

[/hoʊn/]
verb
afiar; aperfeiçoar
1. to sharpen (a blade or tool) on a hone or whetstone
He honed his knife on the stone.
Ele afiou sua faca na pedra.
2. to improve or refine (a skill, ability, or talent) through practice
She honed her writing skills over many years.
Ela aperfeiçoou suas habilidades de escrita ao longo de muitos anos.
3. to make more acute or intense (typically used with 'in' or 'in on')
The predator honed in on its prey.
O predador focou sua atenção na presa.
Synonyms
sharpenwhetrefineperfectpolishdevelop
Antonyms
dullbluntneglectworsen

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
afiar; aperfeiçoar
Standard usage in both senses
Rio de Janeiro
afiar; melhorar
Common colloquial variant using 'melhorar' for refining skills
São Paulo
afiar; desenvolver
Often uses 'desenvolver' when referring to skill development
Portugal
afiar; aperfeiçoar
Standard European Portuguese usage, similar to Brazilian

Related Idioms & Phrases

hone in on - focar em, concentrar-se em
hone your skills - aperfeiçoar suas habilidades
hone to a fine edge - afiar até uma aresta afiada
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