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What is "keen"

Crossword clues for keen

keen
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
keen
adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a good/keen/acute sense of sth
▪ Pigs have a keen sense of smell.
a keen sense of sth (=a good ability to judge something)
▪ As a lawyer, he had a keen sense of the value of political connections.
an enthusiastic/keen supporter
▪ Eisenhower had been an enthusiastic supporter of the regime.
be mad keen (on sth)
▪ ‘Did you enjoy the film?’ ‘I wasn’t mad keen.’
considerable/strong/keen interest
▪ The results of their work will be of considerable interest.
keen sportsman
▪ He’s a very keen sportsman.
keen (=extremely good)
▪ Eagles are known for their extremely keen eyesight.
stiff//tough/fierce/intense/keen competition (=strong competition)
▪ There is stiff competition for places at the best universities.
superior/considerable/keen etc intellect
▪ He combined a formidable intellect with a talent for speaking.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
as
▪ I am a high-handicapper, but as keen as anyone else to improve my game.
▪ Some freeholders were just as keen as was the average burgh councillor to retain close ties with the government ministers.
▪ Peasants often have more practical experience than philosophers and are just as keen to make money out of their produce.
▪ We arrived as keen as a couple of puppies out for their first walkies, full of fun and raring to go!
▪ But firms have not been as keen to get involved as had been hoped.
▪ He did not know the people on it and they did not seem as keen to join as he had expected.
▪ By that stage I was as keen on it as she was.
▪ By now Nilsson was 56, but the voice, once warmed up, is as keen and steady as ever.
■ NOUN
competition
▪ Early impressions suggest that there could be keen competition to provide such a service - if the money can be found!
▪ Within seconds, though, I felt a keen competition.
▪ Both sales saw keen competition for the more interesting lots.
eye
▪ At least with her young, keen eyes she would have seen that he was being duped by his own nephew.
▪ First, each has a keen eye for talent.
▪ But with being a keen golfer, I developed a keen eye for a golf ball and a distance.
▪ And he kept a keen eye on the housing department's invoices.
▪ His thick grey hair was well groomed, his keen eyes looked kind, and his handshake was firm.
▪ She speaks with warmth of Maxwell, Redpath and Gillies and there's a keen eye too kept on contemporary talents.
▪ He had keen eyes and quick hands, so it was a long time before he got caught.
▪ Salford are in the bidding, Oldham are keeping a keen eye on him and St Helens are reportedly interested.
gardener
▪ At home he was a keen gardener winning many prizes for his efforts.
▪ Mummy is a keen gardener, and his father loves flowers.
▪ He was a very keen gardener.
▪ Finally, for keen gardeners there is the opportunity to recreate at home what you have seen in National Trust gardens.
▪ He is a keen gardener, and expressed great pleasure at the choice of present.
▪ Charles Wade was also a keen gardener.
▪ A speechreader was chatting about roses to a keen gardener.
interest
▪ He has a keen interest in contemporary music and is a founder member of the ensemble Capricorn.
▪ The answer is obvious: Symington, via Leckie, had an early and keen interest in procurement matters.
▪ Hardy took a keen interest in their production, although, with two exceptions, the plays themselves were not his work.
▪ Both leaders have professed keen interest in the border-its environment, its enforcement, its very being.
▪ He has a keen interest in popular music and the developing laws and rights in respect of musical performers and songwriters.
▪ Some people have expressed surprise at learning the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is taking such a keen interest in welfare reform.
▪ Ideally with keen interest in current affairs, entertainment, health and lifestyle subject areas.
▪ This part of the action was watched with keen interest by those at Union headquarters across the Antietam.
sense
▪ And Matt Camplisson, a recently retired bus inspector, will also be there with his keen sense of humour.
▪ Alexander, of course, had a keen sense of the value of my commentary.
▪ The most skilled and literate combined the keenest sense of grievance with the ability to articulate their aspirations.
▪ But his good-ore-boy mannerisms hide a keen sense of opportunity.
▪ We feel a keen sense of responsibility for the sick and needy.
▪ Hughes was blessed or cursed by a very keen sense of the social drama of collective life.
▪ But she too had a keen sense of making the best of whatever was given.
▪ They lose their keen sense of smell and direction when the wind picks up like this.
sportsman
▪ Being a doctor was the occupation of his father, a keen sportsman.
▪ He sang in the choir, was a talented musician and a keen sportsman.
▪ He is a keen sportsman and enjoys marathon running for charity. joined the purchase ledger department in August.
▪ He had been a keen sportsman in his youth, and now followed cricket avidly.
▪ Shocked Shocked friends and colleagues spoke last night of the two brothers who were keen sportsmen.
▪ He is a very keen sportsman and enjoys football, fishing and rugby.
▪ A keen sportsman, he'd spent Saturday afternoon playing rugby for his college club.
▪ A keen sportsman, he has several times completed the Great North Run.
supporter
▪ Coming from the disciplines of law, economics and politics, they were all keen supporters of the consumer movement.
▪ But the organisation is a keen supporter of driver training as the best way of making the roads a safer place.
▪ The right hon. Gentleman was a keen supporter of the poll tax.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ a keen eye for detail
▪ a keen interest in science
▪ Chris is a keen photographer - he's won several competitions.
▪ Gabby was obviously anxious to do well, and Jane was keen to help her.
▪ Goethe was a keen amateur geologist.
▪ Greg has a keen mind.
▪ My parents have always been keen on travelling, whenever they get the chance.
▪ Paul, a keen sportsman, prided himself on his level of fitness.
▪ She hasn't much experience but she's very keen.
▪ There are plenty of after-school opportunities for people who are keen on athletics.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Coming from the disciplines of law, economics and politics, they were all keen supporters of the consumer movement.
▪ He had a keen brain and he spotted instantly that as addresses went this one was on the vague side.
▪ He remained keen on jiving and would throw himself all over the place, hair wild and eyes sparkling.
▪ If you're so bloody keen on accuracy, let's be accurate about this.
▪ Originally from Plymouth, she was a very keen squash and tennis player before suffering a knee injury at skiing.
▪ Parr's thin, keen face had narrowed, strangely.
▪ Sam was also a keen and talented naturalist.
▪ They are also quite keen on marijuana, feel most masculine during sport and are least inclined to admire Nigel Mansell.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Keen

Keen \Keen\ (k[=e]n), a. [Compar. Keener (k[=e]n"[~e]r); superl. Keenest.] [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. c[=e]ne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. k["u]hn, OSw. kyn, k["o]n, Icel. k[ae]nn, for k[oe]nn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able. [root]45.]

  1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.

    A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.
    --Chaucer.

    That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.
    --Shak.

  2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.

    To make our wits more keen.
    --Shak.

    Before the keen inquiry of her thought.
    --Cowper.

  3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.

    Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses.
    --Shak.

  4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.

    Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.
    --Goldsmith.

  5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. ``Of full kene will.''
    --Piers Plowman.

    So keen and greedy to confound a man.
    --Shak.

  6. Wonderful; delightful; marvelous; as, that would be keen.

    Note: Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted, keen-witted, etc.

    Syn: Prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating; biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.

Keen

Keen \Keen\, v. t. To sharpen; to make cold. [R.]

Cold winter keens the brightening flood.
--Thomson.

Keen

Keen \Keen\, n. [Ir. caoine.] A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach. [Ireland]
--Froude.

Keen

Keen \Keen\, v. i. To wail as a keener does. [Ireland]

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
keen

c.1200, from Old English cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from Proto-Germanic *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "skilled;" cognate with Old Norse kænn "skillful, wise," Middle Dutch coene "bold," Dutch koen, Old High German kuon "pugnacious, strong," German kühn "bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from mid-14c. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to English: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.

keen

"lament," 1811, from Irish caoinim "I weep, wail, lament," from Old Irish coinim "I wail." Related: Keened; keening. As a noun from 1830.

Wiktionary
keen

Etymology 1

  1. 1 showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense. 2 vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. 3 sharp; having a fine edge or point. 4 acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness. 5 bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm. 6 piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc,; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen. 7 (context often with "to" + infinitive or with a prepositional phrase English) enthusiastic 8 (context US informal dated English) marvelous. 9 (context UK English) extremely low as to be competitive. 10 (context obsolete English) brave, courageous; bold, audacious. alt. 1 showing a quick and ardent willingness or responsiveness, enthusiastic, eager; interested, intense. 2 vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. 3 sharp; having a fine edge or point. 4 acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness. 5 bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm. 6 piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind, etc,; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen. 7 (context often with "to" + infinitive or with a prepositional phrase English) enthusiastic 8 (context US informal dated English) marvelous. 9 (context UK English) extremely low as to be competitive. 10 (context obsolete English) brave, courageous; bold, audacious. v

  2. (context transitive rare English) To sharpen; to make cold. Etymology 2

    n. A prolonged wail for a deceased person. vb. 1 (context intransitive English) To utter a keen. 2 (context transitive English) To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry. 3 (context transitive English) To mourn.

Related phrases:
WordNet
keen

v. express grief verbally; "we lamented the death of the child" [syn: lament]

keen

n. a funeral lament sung with loud wailing

keen

  1. adj. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" [syn: acute, discriminating, incisive, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp]

  2. intense or sharp; "suffered exquisite pain"; "felt exquisite pleasure" [syn: exquisite]

  3. very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation; "an incisive mind"; "a keen intelligence"; "of sharp and active intellect" [syn: incisive, sharp]

  4. very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing" [syn: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, groovy, neat, nifty, not bad(p), peachy, slap-up, swell, smashing]

  5. as physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument; "a cutting wind"; "keen winds"; "knifelike cold"; "piercing knifelike pains"; "piercing cold"; "piercing criticism"; "a stabbing pain"; "lancinating pain" [syn: cutting, knifelike, piercing, stabbing, lancinate, lancinating]

  6. having a sharp cutting edge or point; "a keen blade"

Wikipedia
Keen

Keen may refer to:

Keen (shoe company)

Keen is an American shoe manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2003 by Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst, their shoes are now available in more than a thousand retail locations in the United States, and are distributed worldwide.

Keen (surname)

Keen is an English surname. It is either of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a nickname surname for someone who is brave, or from the Middle English or Olde English personal name 'Kene', which means king. Alternatively, it can be a variation of the Irish surname O'Cahan.

Keen (song)

"Keen" is a 1985 non-album single by That Petrol Emotion.
The 12" B-side "Zig-Zag Wanderer" was originally recorded by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band in 1967.

Keen (band)

Keen is a band born in Sulmona, Italy, in February 2003. Keen are influenced by several industrial metal bands like Rammstein, The Kovenant and Marilyn Manson (whose tour "Against all Gods tour" was opened by Keen in 2005), and metal bands like Metallica, but the Keen sound is a personal mix of melodies, aggressiveness, involving rhythms and electronic samplings; a result of the union of the different musical skills and interests of each member of the band.

Band members (2011): Cristian Esposito (Critz), Alfredo Silvestri, Gianni Buccigrossi (Shirley), Fabrizio Pagliaro, Simone Colasante.

On August 23, 2003 Keen released their first self produced EP "Love With Bile" preceded by the introduction single (self - produced) "Nailing Keen" that the band released in April 2003.

In summer 2003 Keen was selected by Rock TV between more than 4,000 bands to take part in I.TIM TOUR FESTIVAL 2003. After they won the competition in Catania (one of the I.TIM TOUR FESTIVAL 2003's date) Keen got to the finals at Piazza Duomo in Milan in front of 10,000 people! One track from the EP "Love With Bile" ("Nailing Keen") was included in magazine ROCK HARD number 17 cd-compilation (December 2003)

On January 20, 2004 the band was involved in one episode of SALAPROVE, went on the air on Rock TV and in April they shared the stage with Extrema for Rock TV Tour in Reggio Emilia.

"Love With Bile" has received 10 TOP DEMO from the most greater magazines and European webzine!

In March 2004, ROCKHARD published the first interview of the band (ROCKHARD number 20).

In Summer 2004 Keen was selected again by Rock TV to take part in I.TIM TOUR FESTIVAL 2004. After they won the competition in Reggio Calabria, Keen got to the finals at Piazza Duomo in Milan.

In 2004 Keen taken part in "Database" (Rock TV).

In June 2005, the song "Sleeping Beauty", was chosen to be the soundtrack for the short film "La bella Addormentata".

In June 2005 Keen was chosen by Clear Channel/Universal Music Italia to share the stage with MARILYN MANSON for the Italian date of AGAINST ALL GOD TOUR.

September 2005: brand new Keen interview on Metal Shock Magazine number 437.

October 2005: Keen released "Dying Life".

"Dying Life" has received 18 TOP DEMO from the most greater magazines and European webzine!

December 2006: Keen released "Dramas in Formaldheyde".

"Dramas in Formaldehyde" has received 30 TOP DEMO from the most greater magazines and European webzine!

"Stuntman", from "Dramas In Formaldehyde", has been chosen as soundtrack from the European Stuntman School for their shows.

Keen have been chosen by Myspace as one of the best 9 underground European existing bands

June 2007: Keen was selected to take part at " Gods of Metal" at Idroscalo in Milan (Myspace Stage).

April 2009: Keen released "Broken Hearts Museum".

"Broken Hearts Museum" has received 15 TOP DEMO from the most greater magazines and European webzine!

Usage examples of "keen".

Then calling on the name of Allah, he gave a last keen cunning sweep with the blade, and following that, the earth awfully quaked and groaned, as if speaking in the abysmal tongue the Mastery of the Event to all men.

Beckoning his companions, Acies led them through the forest, keen eyes searching for something.

It carried the boy to a smaller form that Acies could easily pick out with his keen eyes.

Britain was not keen to legislate against addictive drugs was that it was making vast amounts of money by flogging opium to the Chinese.

His keen eyes detected slight aerosol droplets, revealed in a shaft of sunlight viewed against shade.

The alienists listened with keen attention to his words, since their curiosity had been aroused to a high pitch by the suggestive yet mostly conflicting and incoherent stories of his family and neighbors.

The descent was accomplished with a minimum of noise, and even Amity managed to creep through the shrubbery without attracting the keen ears of the watchdogs.

He wanted to destroy them all, so that he would feel less lonely, and, in order to penetrate this absence with his annihilating presence, he left the jeep behind at a forgotten township where a green track ended and an ancient whisky priest sat all day in the ruins of a forsaken church brewing fire-water from wild bananas and keening the stations of the cross.

He stood with tiller in hand, keen eyes asquint against the sky, watching the sail and calling sharp commands which the others instantly obeyed.

She was as keen as anyone could be to hear the latest details of an Avenger crime.

They would be recorded, in all probability, in the Avifauna Journal - a small publication of limited circulation which went to keen students of bird life.

The thing was done so rapidly that the sheriff--a sly, keen fellow, worthy of his clients Barbet and Metivier--found the lad weeping in his chair when he entered the wretched room, after assuring himself that the manuscripts were not in the antechamber.

She wished, belatedly, that she had had the patience to stand by, as Lowenthal had done, and watch the farce unfold while wearing an expression of keen concentration.

Perhaps it was this curious underground chamber that Billard was so keen to get his hands on.

Sir John Bittle had an uncomfortable feeling that those eyes were keen enough to note the slightest tightening of a muscle.