Definition
To make a skill, ability, or tool sharper and more effective through practice or careful effort.
Example
She honed her cooking skills by practising every weekend.
Show translation
She made her cooking skills sharper by practising every weekend.
Etymology
From Old English *hān* meaning "whetstone" (a stone used to sharpen blades). The noun *hone* referred to the stone itself, and the verb evolved to mean the act of sharpening on it. By the 20th century, figurative use — sharpening a talent or argument — became dominant in everyday English.
Cultural note
In American English, *hone in on* is widely used to mean "focus precisely on something" (e.g., *She honed in on the problem*). Traditionalists prefer *home in on* for that meaning, arguing *hone* means only "to sharpen." Both forms are now broadly accepted in informal use, so don't be surprised to see either in native writing.