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hardening

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhɑː^rd^ənɪŋ/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(här′dn ing)

hard•en•ing (här′dn ing),USA pronunciation n.

Metallurgya material that hardens another, as an alloy added to iron to make steel.
the process of becoming hard or rigid.

harden + -ing¹ 1620–30

hard•en /ˈhɑrdən/USA pronunciation v.

to (cause to) become hard or harder: [no object]The ice cream hardened in the freezer.[~ + object]The freezer will harden the ice cream.
to (cause to) become pitiless, unfeeling, or less gentle and sympathetic: [no object]His heart hardened with anger.[~ + object]His cruel life had hardened his heart.
to cause to become stronger;
toughen:[~ + object]Battle had hardened the troops.

hard•en•er, n. [countable]

hard•en (här′dn),USA pronunciation v.t.

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, esp. with reference to character, intentions, feelings, etc.;
reinforce.
to make hardy, robust, or capable of endurance;
toughen.
Militaryto reinforce the structure of (a military or strategic installation) to protect it from nuclear bombardment.

v.i.

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.
Business[Com.](of a market, prices, etc.)
- to cease to fluctuate;
  firm:When the speculators withdrew from the market, the prices hardened.
- to rise higher.

1150–1200; Middle English; see hard, -en¹

hard′en•a•ble, adj.
hard′en•a•bil′i•ty, n.

Har•den (här′dn),USA pronunciation n.

Biographical Sir Arthur, 1865–1940, English biochemist: Nobel prize 1929.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

harden /ˈhɑːd^ən/ vb

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

'hardening' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

arteriosclerosis - boron - corn - cure - gum - hardening of the arteries - hydraulic - scleroderma - sclerosis - sodium cyanide - thermosetting - air-hardening - burn - caked breast - calcification - cement - chlorotrifluoromethane - cuticle - fixative - fluorapatite - fluosilicic acid - gate - horny - hyperkeratosis - induration - lichenification - osteosclerosis - phlebosclerosis - vacuum concrete - water - sclerema - scleroma - sclerotherapy - sclerotic - self-hardening

Synonyms: stiffening, solidifying, freezing, setting, solidification, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "hardening" in the title:

Encourage the hardening of something
hardening divisions over something
hardening of public facilities
Hardening of the liver
hardening your public presence
like gelatine hardening
Network 'hardening'?!
your face is hardening

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⇱ hardening - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

hardening