whetting

/ˈwɛtɪŋ/

verb

  1. Sharpening a blade by rubbing it against a stone or another rough surface.

    B2

    transitive; present participle of whet

    • "He was whetting his knife before cutting the rope."B1
    • "The craftsman spent the morning whetting the tools to restore their sharp edges."B2

  2. Increasing someone's desire, interest, or appetite for something.

    C1

    transitive; present participle of whet

    • "The smell of fresh bread was whetting my appetite."B1
    • "The preview succeeded in whetting the audience's curiosity about the new series."B2

Collocations

whetting a knifewhetting the appetitewhetting someone's curiositywhetting someone's interest

Word family

whetwhetstone