The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SHARP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
H
A
R
P
More clues leading to the result SHARP
- Quick-witted character on the staff
- Incisive English coming from satirical novelist
- Small instrument out of tune
- Astute playwright shortened kind of speech
- Note, part of lush arpeggio
- Quiet way to speak about a cheat
- Small instrument for piercing
- Note coming from small plucked instrument
- Small stringed instrument needing tuning?
- Start to strum instrument? That's not natural
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Note" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case note = sharp.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHARP mean?
SHARP noun- The symbol ♯, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.
- A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ♯.
- A note that is sharp in a particular key.
- The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
- (usually in the plural) Something that is sharp.
- A dishonest person; a cheater.
- Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
- A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between.
- (in the plural) Fine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings.
- An expert.
- A sharpie (member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s).
- To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
- To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
- To sharpen.
- Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut easily; not obtuse or rounded.
- Intelligent.
- Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
- Higher in pitch than required.
- Having an intense, acrid flavour.
- Sudden and intense.
- Illegal or dishonest.
- Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd.
- Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
- Offensive, critical, or acrimonious.
- Stylish or attractive.
- Observant; alert; acute.
- Forming a small angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
- Steep; precipitous; abrupt.
- (of a statement) Said of as extreme a value as possible.
- Tactical; risky.
- Piercing; keen; severe; painful.
- Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.
- Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
- Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.
- Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
- Hungry.
- To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
- (notcomp) Exactly.
- In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.