Definition of keen
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : intellectually alert : having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind
a keen student a keen awareness of the problem also : shrewdly astute a keen assessment
b : extremely sensitive in perception
keen eyes a keen sense of smell
c : sharply contested keen competition keen debate
2a(1) : showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic a keen swimmer
(2) : eager was keen to begin
4a : having a fine edge or point : sharp a knife with a keen blade
b : affecting one as if by cutting
keen sarcasm
c : pungent to the sense
a keen scent
keen on
: very enthusiastic or excited about
wasn't keen on going
keen
verbkeened; keening; keens
Definition of keen (Entry 2 of 3)
1a : to make a loud and long cry of sorrow : to lament with a keen
b : to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow
a keening siren
2 : to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
: to utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry
keened our sorrow — Punch
keen
nounDefinition of keen (Entry 3 of 3)
: a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry
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Time Traveler for keen
The first known use of keen was in the 13th century
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