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释义：“砥砺”，本意指用磨刀石使刀具保持锋利，在现代英语和留学文书里常常引申来形容技能的磨炼和提升。

例句：
Hey, if my instincts aren't as honed as they should be, at least my powers of observation are.
That kind of work doesn't really give me any chance to use the skills I honed in the ER surgical unit.