keen 1 (k?n)adj. keen·er, keen·est 1. Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point.2. Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity. See Synonyms at sharp.3. Acutely sensitive: a keen ear.4. Sharp; vivid; strong: “His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting” (Richard Wright).5. Intense or bracing: a keen wind.6. Pungent; acrid: A keen smell of skunk was left behind.7. a. Ardent; enthusiastic: a keen chess player.b. Eagerly desirous: keen on going to Europe in the spring.8. Slang Great; splendid; fine: What a keen day![Middle English kene, from Old English c?ne, brave.]keen?ly adv.keen?ness n.keen 2 (k?n)n. A loud wailing or lament for the dead.intr.v. keened, keen·ing, keens To wail in lamentation, especially for the dead. See Synonyms at cry.[From Irish Gaelic caoineadh, from caonim, I lament, from Old Irish caínim, coínim, perhaps of Brittonic origin.]keen?er n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.keen (ki?n) adj1. eager or enthusiastic2. (foll by: on) fond (of); devoted (to): keen on a girl; keen on golf. 3. intellectually acute: a keen wit. 4. (of sight, smell, hearing, etc) capable of recognizing fine distinctions5. having a sharp cutting edge or point6. extremely cold and penetrating: a keen wind. 7. intense or strong: a keen desire. 8. chiefly Brit extremely low so as to be competitive: keen prices. 9. slang chiefly US and Canadian very good[Old English c?ne; related to Old High German kuoni brave, Old Norse koenn wise; see can1, know] ?keenly adv ?keenness nkeen (ki?n) vb (intr) to lament the deadna dirge or lament for the dead[C19: from Irish Gaelic caoine, from Old Irish co?nim I wail] ?keener nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014keen1 (kin) adj. -er, -est. 1. finely sharpened; so shaped as to cut or pierce readily: a keen razor. 2. sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind. 3. acutely or finely perceptive; extremely sensitive, responsive, or alert: keen ears; a keen mind. 4. having great acumen; astute: a keen observer of human nature. 5. animated by strong feeling or desire: keen competition. 6. intense, as feeling or desire. 7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): I was keen to go swimming. 8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous. [before 900; Middle English kene, Old English c?ne; c. Old High German chuoni bold, Old Norse k?nn wise, skillful] keen?ly, adv. keen?ness, n. syn: See sharp. keen2 (kin) n. 1. a wailing lament for the dead. v.i. 2. to wail in lamentation for the dead. v.t. 3. to bewail or lament by or with keening. [1805?15;