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whet

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To whet is to create or stimulate an interest or appetite for something or to sharpen the edge of a knife.

(verb)

An example of whet is when you take a tiny taste of delicious food and want more.
An example of whet is when you rub a knife edge against a sharpening stone.

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See whet in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb whetted, whetting

to sharpen by rubbing or grinding (the edge of a knife or tool); hone
to make keen; stimulate: to whet the appetite

Origin: ME whetten < OE hwettan, to make keen < hwæt, sharp, keen, bold < IE base *kwed-, to pierce, sharpen, whet > prob. L (tri)quetrus, (three-)cornered

noun

an act of whetting
something that whets (the appetite, etc.)

Related Forms:

whetter noun

See whet in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb whet·ted, whet·ting, whets

To sharpen (a knife, for example); hone.
To make more keen; stimulate: The frying bacon whetted my appetite.

noun

The act of whetting.
Something that whets.
Informal An appetizer.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English whetten

Origin: , from Old English hwettan

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