hardened

Main Entry:: hard·en
Pronunciation:: \ˈhär-d^ən\
Function:: verb
Inflected Form(s):: hard·ened; hard·en·ing \ˈhärd-niŋ, ˈhär-d^ən-iŋ\
Date:: 13th century

transitive verb1: to make hard or harder2: to confirm in disposition, feelings, or action ; especially : to make callous <hardened his heart>3 a: inure , toughen <harden troops> b: to inure to unfavorable environmental conditions (as cold) —often used with off<harden off seedlings before transplanting>4: to protect from blast, heat, or radiation (as by a thick barrier or placement underground)intransitive verb1: to become hard or harder2 a: to become firm, stable, or settled b: to assume an appearance of harshness or severity <her face hardened at the thought>3: to become gradually acclimatized to unfavorable conditions —often used with off<plants hardened off before the first frost>

Learn more about "harden" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "harden" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols