A tool designed to create a sharp point or edge on implements like pencils or knives by shaving away worn surfaces.

Key Facts About Pencil Sharpeners:
Mechanism: Most pencil sharpeners use a small blade enclosed in a conical housing to shave wood and graphite, whereas helical sharpeners use rotating cutting cylinders to provide a more precise tip.
Types: Popular models include pocket-sized manual sharpeners, tabletop crank-operated models, and electric sharpeners designed for classrooms and offices.
History: Early sharpeners were invented around 1828, but rotary sharpeners for mass use became popular around 1900.
Alternative Uses: Some sharpeners can sharpen thicker pencils or wax crayons. 
Common Sharpener Terminology:
Pencil Pointer: Another term for a pencil sharpener, specifically for sharpeners that create a precise point.
Parer/Topper: Informal terms often used in Ireland.
Sharpening Steel/Stone: Specialized tools used for sharpening knives rather than pencils.