keen: Meaning and Definition of

keen

Pronunciation: (kēn), [key]
— -er, -est.
  1. finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
  2. sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
  3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
  4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
  5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
  6. intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
  7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
  8. great; wonderful; marvelous.

keen

Pronunciation: (kēn), [key]
— n.
  1. a wailing lament for the dead.
—v.i.
  1. to wail in lamentation for the dead.
—v.t.
  1. to bewail or lament by or with keening.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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