keen meaning and definition

KEEN noun

Definition of keen (noun)

1. a funeral lament sung with loud wailing

KEEN verb

Definition of keen (verb)

1. express grief verbally
   • "we lamented the death of the child"
   • synonyms: lament

KEEN adjective

Definition of keen (adjective)

1. 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"
   • synonyms: acute, discriminating, incisive, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp
2. intense or sharp
   • "suffered exquisite pain"; "felt exquisite pleasure"
   • synonyms: exquisite
3. very good
   • "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
   • synonyms: bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, groovy, neat, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell
4. 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"
   • synonyms: cutting, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, piercing, stabbing
5. having a sharp cutting edge or point
   • "a keen blade"