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Definition of toughen verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

toughen

verb
 
/ˈtʌfn/
 
/ˈtʌfn/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they toughen
 
/ˈtʌfn/
 
/ˈtʌfn/
he / she / it toughens
 
/ˈtʌfnz/
 
/ˈtʌfnz/
past simple toughened
 
/ˈtʌfnd/
 
/ˈtʌfnd/
past participle toughened
 
/ˈtʌfnd/
 
/ˈtʌfnd/
-ing form toughening
 
/ˈtʌfnɪŋ/
 
/ˈtʌfnɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. [transitive, intransitive] toughen (something) (up) to become or make something stronger, so that it is not easily cut, broken, etc.
    • toughened glass
  2. [transitive] toughen something (up) to make something such as laws or rules stricter
    • The government is considering toughening up the law on censorship.
    Topics Permission and obligationc2
  3. [transitive] toughen somebody (up) to make somebody stronger and more able to deal with difficult situations
    • His parents sent him away to school to toughen him up.
See toughen in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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