hardening

[ hahr-dn-ing ]

/ ˈhɑr dn ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR hardening ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a material that hardens another, as an alloy added to iron to make steel.

the process of becoming hard or rigid.

Origin of hardening

First recorded in 1620–30; harden + -ing¹

Words nearby hardening

hardenberg, hardenbergia, hardenburg, hardened, hardener, hardening, hardening of arteries, hardening of the arteries, hardhack, hardhead, hardhead sponge

Definition for hardening (2 of 2)

harden

[ hahr-dn ]

/ ˈhɑr dn /

verb (used with object)

to make hard or harder: to harden steel.

to make pitiless or unfeeling: to harden one's heart.

to make rigid or unyielding; stiffen: The rigors of poverty hardened his personality.

to strengthen or confirm, especially with reference to character, intentions, feelings, etc.; reinforce.

to make hardy, robust, or capable of endurance; toughen.

Military. to reinforce the structure of (a military or strategic installation) to protect it from nuclear bombardment.

verb (used without object)

to become hard or harder.

to become pitiless or unfeeling.

to become rigid or unyielding; stiffen: His personality hardened over the years.

to become confirmed or strengthened: His resistance hardened.

to become inured or toughened: The troops hardened under constant fire.

Commerce. (of a market, prices, etc.)

to cease to fluctuate; firm: When the speculators withdrew from the market, the prices hardened.
to rise higher.

Origin of harden

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; see origin at hard, -en¹

SYNONYMS FOR harden

1 solidify, indurate; petrify, ossify.

4 fortify, steel, brace, nerve.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR harden ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR harden

1 soften.

4 weaken.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR harden ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM harden

hard·en·a·ble, adjective hard·en·a·bil·i·ty, noun o·ver·hard·en, verb pre·hard·en, verb (used with object)

re·hard·en, verb un·hard·en, verb (used with object) un·hard·en·a·ble, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for hardening

The quicker the finished product gets into the hardening cabinet, the smaller the ice crystals.

The Secret to This Ice Cream: Pampered Cows |Jane & Michael Stern |May 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The drug halts the development of atherosclerosis, a word referring to the hardening of the arteries.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Come Closer to Eliminating Heart Disease |Dale Eisinger |April 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The force of the two reacting spreads the foam through the chest cavity, hardening to apply pressure to any bleed sites.

New 'Suspended Animation' Procedure Saves Lives by Replacing Blood with a Cold Electrolyte Solution |Elizabeth Lopatto |April 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The hardening of an idea into a plan for a novel is a vague process and hard to describe.

How I Write: Diane Johnson |Noah Charney |January 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Nor can the hardening of positions in Israel can be attributed to Israeli insecurity.

Reading Lustick Carefully |Jerry Haber |September 20, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The grease of the fox and the marrow are good for the hardening of sinews.

The Master of Game |Second Duke of York, Edward
A dollar is 254⁄5 grains of a metal compound coined, of which nine parts are pure gold and one part a hardening alloy.

Principles of Political Economy |Arthur Latham Perry
His London world talked of a hardening of heart and a tightening of purse-strings which signified disloyalty to the Cause.

A Diversity of Creatures |Rudyard Kipling
After hardening the file in mercury and using kerosene, I also required four minutes per hole.

On Laboratory Arts |Richard Threlfall
Her unfailing instinct was hardening a new one, that ruled for immediate flight.

The Plow-Woman |Eleanor Gates

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (1 of 3)

hardening

/ (ˈhɑːdənɪŋ) /

noun

the act or process of becoming or making hard

a substance added to another substance or material to make it harder

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (2 of 3)

harden ¹

/ (ˈhɑːdən) /

verb

to make or become hard or harder; freeze, stiffen, or set

to make or become more hardy, tough, or unfeeling

to make or become stronger or firmer they hardened defences

to make or become more resolute or set hardened in his resolve

(intr) commerce

(of prices, a market, etc) to cease to fluctuate
(of price) to rise higher

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (3 of 3)

harden ²

/ (ˈhɑːdən) /

noun

a rough fabric made from hards

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hardening

noun

Origin of hardening

Words nearby hardening

Definition for hardening (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of harden

SYNONYMS FOR harden

ANTONYMS FOR harden

OTHER WORDS FROM harden

Example sentences from the Web for hardening

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (2 of 3)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (3 of 3)

noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

hardening

noun

Origin of hardening

Words nearby hardening

Definition for hardening (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of harden

SYNONYMS FOR harden

ANTONYMS FOR harden

OTHER WORDS FROM harden

Words related to hardening

Example sentences from the Web for hardening

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (2 of 3)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for hardening (3 of 3)

noun