Definition of "whet" in English

verb

1. (transitive) To hone or rub on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening – see whetstone.

2. (transitive) To stimulate or make more keen.

   • to whet one's appetite or one's courage
   • My faith in vegetarianism grew on me from day to day. Salt's book whetted my appetite for dietetic studies. I went in for all books available on vegetarianism and read them.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To preen.

noun

1. The act of whetting something.

2. That which whets or sharpens; especially, an appetizer.