keen

keen¹ W3S3 [ki:n] adj

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1¦(want something)¦

2¦(like)¦

3¦(hobby/interest)¦

4¦(eager to work/learn)¦

5¦(sight/smell/hearing)¦

6¦(mind)¦

7¦(feeling)¦

8¦(competition)¦

9¦(attracted)¦

10¦(sharp)¦

11¦(wind)¦

12¦(prices)¦

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[: Old English; Origin: cene]

1.) ¦(WANT SOMETHING)¦

especially BrE wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much

= ↑eager keen to do sth

▪ He told Hayling that he was keen to help.

keen on doing sth

▪ I wasn't keen on going there on my own.

keen for sth to happen

▪ The government is keen for peace talks to start again soon.

keen that

▪ The chairman is keen that the company should expand its product range.

2.) ¦(LIKE)¦

be keen on sb/sth

BrE spoken to like someone or something

▪ I'm not keen on cabbage.

not too/not very/not that keen on sth

▪ She likes Biology, but she's not too keen on Physics.

▪ My flatmates want to have a party, but I'm not keen on the idea .

3.) ¦(HOBBY/INTEREST)¦

especially BrE someone who is keen on something is very interested in it or enjoys doing it very much

▪ a keen photographer

▪ keen golfers

keen on

▪ Daniel's very keen on tennis.

mad keen on sth

(=very keen on something) spoken

▪ I was mad keen on dinosaurs when I was little.

▪ She takes a keen interest in politics and current affairs.

4.) ¦(EAGER TO WORK/LEARN)¦

someone who is keen is eager to work or learn and enjoys doing it

▪ keen students

▪ The kids in my class are all very keen.

▪ She was new in the job and keen as mustard (=very keen) .

5.) ¦(SIGHT/SMELL/HEARING)¦

a keen sense of smell or keen sight or hearing is an extremely good ability to smell etc

▪ Dogs have a very keen sense of smell.

▪ She has a keen eye for (=is good at noticing) talent.

6.) ¦(MIND)¦

someone with a keen mind is quick to understand things

▪ a keen understanding of commerce

▪ With her keen mind and good business sense, she soon became noticed.

7.) ¦(FEELING)¦

a keen feeling is one that is strong and deep

▪ As she walked away, Joe felt a keen sense of loss.

8.) ¦(COMPETITION)¦

used to describe a situation in which people compete strongly

▪ We won the contest in the face of keen competition .

9.) ¦(ATTRACTED)¦

BrE be keen on sb

to be sexually attracted to someone

10.)¦(SHARP)¦

literary a keen knife or blade is extremely sharp

11.) ¦(WIND)¦

old-fashioned a keen wind is cold and strong

12.) ¦(PRICES)¦

BrE keen prices are low

>keenly adv

▪ I was keenly aware of the dangers.

>keenness n [U]

keen ²

keen² v

[i]old use to sing a loud, sad song for someone who has died