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1 keen

Pronounced:

/ˈki:n/Listen to audio

Function:

adjective

Inflected forms:

keen·er; keen·est

Meaning:

[also more keen; most keen] 1 : having or showing an ability to think clearly and to understand what is not obvious or simple about something a keen intellect/intelligence/mind She's a very keen observer of the political world. She made some keen [=acute] observations. a keen wit
2 : very strong and sensitive : highly developed The dog has a keen sense of smell. = The dog has a keen nose. keen [=acute] eyesight/hearing She had a keen awareness of what was happening. [=she knew exactly what was happening] She has a keen ear for languages. [=she is able to easily learn and understand languages] He has a keen eye for details. [=he is good at noticing details]
3 a : very excited about and interested in something She's a keen tennis player. = She's keen about tennis. He's a keen student of art history. = He has a keen interest in art history. b : feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something He is keen [=eager] to learn more about art history.
4 : strong or intense After his death, she felt a keen [=profound] sense of loss. The two firms are in keen competition. (chiefly Brit) a keen wind
5 informal + old-fashioned : very good : wonderful Gee, that's keen. This sense is now usually used in a playful or ironic way.see also peachy keen
6 literary : having a sharp edge or point a keen knife/sword
7 Brit of a price : very low They sell reliable products at very keen prices.
(as) keen as mustard
Brit : very excited and interested : very enthusiastic I gave him the job because he was willing to learn and seemed as keen as mustard.
keen on
1 : very excited about and interested in (something) She's very keen on tennis. I'm not keen on that idea. [=I don't like that idea] (Brit) He's mad keen on golf.
2 chiefly Brit : interested in or attracted to (someone) He's been very keen on her since they met at my party.
—keen·ly adverb They were keenly interested in how well I was doing. a keenly felt change The parents were keenly aware of the teacher's importance.
—keen·ness Listen to audio /ˈki:nnəs/ noun [noncount] The keenness of the saw made cutting the board easier. [singular] a keenness of sight
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