whet

v. sharpen; awaken, stimulate

n. sharpening; stimulus; appetizer

(v. t.)
To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife.
  

(v. t.)
To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite or the courage.
  

(n.)
The act of whetting.
  

(n.)
That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer.
  

Verb
1. make keen or more acute; "whet my appetite"
(synonym) quicken
(hypernym) stimulate, excite, stir
2. sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone
(hypernym) sharpen