Noun

(uncountable) the cutting ability of an edge; keenness

(uncountable) the fineness of the point a pointed object

(countable) The product or result of being sharp.

(of food etc) pungency or acidity

(of an image) distinctness, focus

(of intelligence) acuteness or acuity

*{{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=June 19 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Ukraine , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=A lack of match sharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes.}}

(obsolete) edge or blade

*{{quote-book

, year=1760 , author=John Marchant, Gent. Mr. Gordon, Daniel Bellamy, and others. , title=A New Complete English Dictionary... citation , passage=CUT-WATER, or KNEE OF THE HEAD [S.] the ?harpne?s of the head of the ?hip, below the beak;}}

*{{quote-book

, year=ca. 1395 , author=John Wycliffe et al. , title=Joshua 6:21 citation , passage=also thei smytiden bi the scharpnesse of swerd, oxun, and scheep, and assis.}}

Noun

(uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.

* 2005 , Lies Sercu and Ewa Bandura, Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation :

Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence .

(countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task.

* 1961 , National Council for Elementary Science (U.S.), Science Education :

What professional competences do science teachers need?

A sustainable income.

* Alexander Pope

Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence .

* 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 17

“money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence , it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”

(countable) In law, the legal authority to deal with a matter.

That question is out with the competence of this court and must be taken to a higher court.