Harden
/ˈhɑːrdn/verb
To become or make something solid, firm, and unable to change shape easily.
The cake will harden as it cools.
Often appears as...
- harden into shape
- harden off
verb
To become or make more severe, unfeeling, or critical.
His heart had hardened after years of disappointment.
Often appears as...
- harden one's heart
- harden one's attitude
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
A process used in computing to ensure a system is more secure from threats or vulnerabilities.
You need to harden your network against cyber attacks.
Often appears as...
- harden the server
- harden the software
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To become or make something solid, firm, and unable to change shape easily.
The cake will harden as it cools.
Often appears as...
- harden into shape
- harden off
verb
To become or make more severe, unfeeling, or critical.
His heart had hardened after years of disappointment.
Often appears as...
- harden one's heart
- harden one's attitude
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
A process used in computing to ensure a system is more secure from threats or vulnerabilities.
You need to harden your network against cyber attacks.
Often appears as...
- harden the server
- harden the software
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Change
Used to describe a visible change from soft or liquid to solid.
Leave the chocolate outside and it will harden.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
Sometimes used to talk about ideas or feelings taking a fixed form.
Her tentative plans finally hardened into a clear itinerary.
Pro Tip 3/3Gradual Process
Describes a process that happens over time, not instantly.
If you wait overnight, the glue will harden.
Compare with
consolidatorfortifypetrificationsetsolidifystiffenstrengthentoughen
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Video examples
A path to security for...
when politicians want to posture as tough on crime but don't actually want to change the status quo. And research shows it backfires all over the world. If you throw a lot of low-level offenders into jails, usually already overcrowded jails, they learn from each other and they harden.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 7 PIPE...
there and the dust her she just helps to dislodge any parasites that might be on the body helps to keep the skin in good condition and obviously during the summer they will actually put mud all over their bodies as well and when the mud hardens then that'll have fall off
Video examples
The Exhilarating Peace...
The capillaries in the lungs become engorged with blood -- which is caused by the suction -- so the lungs can harden and protect the whole chest cavity from being crushed. It prevents the two walls of the lungs from collapsing, from sticking together and caving in.
Video examples
Defending the ant nest...
Deep in the bowels of the nest lives the termite queen. If she is killed, the entire colony will die out. She must be protected, so termites start to isolate her from the fighting by building a wall of mud mixed with saliva that will harden like concrete.
Video examples
Welcome to Embalming 101...
displaces the blood which escapes through an incision usually in the jugular vein almost immediately the corpse begins to harden this may seem like a process dreamed up by a mad scientist but in reality embalming has deep historical and religious roots in
Video examples
Preserving Corpses PIPE...
displaces the blood which escapes through an incision usually in the jugular vein almost immediately the corpse begins to harden this may seem like a process dreamed up by a mad scientist but in reality embalming has deep historical and religious roots in
Video examples
The Secret World of...
muscles burst into life and the dragonfly floats up into the afternoon sunshine the pale and fragile dragonfly must now find a quiet spot to roost while its exoskeleton hardens and develops the rich core scheme the adult running form
Video examples
How to fossilize...yourse...
so we can get to what is really important -- how you die. There are many ways to become a fossil, so let's highlight your top death options. You could get yourself trapped in tree sap, which, when hardens, turns into amber
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
destructive forces of nature they have also helped make life on earth possible volcanic ash provides nutrients to nearby soil making the land fertile and lava when it cools hardens into rock and creates new landforms
Video examples
Fossils 101 PIPE National...
in tree sap. The sap or resin forms a protective seal around the entrapped organism. Over time, the soft resin hardens and turns into amber with the organism suspended within.
Video examples
A path to security for...
when politicians want to posture as tough on crime but don't actually want to change the status quo. And research shows it backfires all over the world. If you throw a lot of low-level offenders into jails, usually already overcrowded jails, they learn from each other and they harden.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 7 PIPE...
there and the dust her she just helps to dislodge any parasites that might be on the body helps to keep the skin in good condition and obviously during the summer they will actually put mud all over their bodies as well and when the mud hardens then that'll have fall off
Video examples
The Exhilarating Peace...
The capillaries in the lungs become engorged with blood -- which is caused by the suction -- so the lungs can harden and protect the whole chest cavity from being crushed. It prevents the two walls of the lungs from collapsing, from sticking together and caving in.
Video examples
Defending the ant nest...
Deep in the bowels of the nest lives the termite queen. If she is killed, the entire colony will die out. She must be protected, so termites start to isolate her from the fighting by building a wall of mud mixed with saliva that will harden like concrete.
Video examples
Welcome to Embalming 101...
displaces the blood which escapes through an incision usually in the jugular vein almost immediately the corpse begins to harden this may seem like a process dreamed up by a mad scientist but in reality embalming has deep historical and religious roots in
Video examples
Preserving Corpses PIPE...
displaces the blood which escapes through an incision usually in the jugular vein almost immediately the corpse begins to harden this may seem like a process dreamed up by a mad scientist but in reality embalming has deep historical and religious roots in
Video examples
The Secret World of...
muscles burst into life and the dragonfly floats up into the afternoon sunshine the pale and fragile dragonfly must now find a quiet spot to roost while its exoskeleton hardens and develops the rich core scheme the adult running form
Video examples
How to fossilize...yourse...
so we can get to what is really important -- how you die. There are many ways to become a fossil, so let's highlight your top death options. You could get yourself trapped in tree sap, which, when hardens, turns into amber
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
destructive forces of nature they have also helped make life on earth possible volcanic ash provides nutrients to nearby soil making the land fertile and lava when it cools hardens into rock and creates new landforms
Video examples
Fossils 101 PIPE National...
in tree sap. The sap or resin forms a protective seal around the entrapped organism. Over time, the soft resin hardens and turns into amber with the organism suspended within.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ingrid Newkirk
British Activist
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for human beings is wean them off an animal-based diet. It hardens the arteries and runs up our health-care costs. The last thing a poor person can afford is a heart attack or cancer or a stroke. And that's all linked to a meat-based diet. I think animal liberation is human liberation.
Quote examples
Dustin Poirier
American Athlete
Seven years is a long time, and seven years of fighting the best guys in the best organization in the world, the biggest organization in the world, it hardens you. You don't stay seven years without evolving. It doesn't happen.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
When I'm home, I spend Sunday with my husband. If we're not cooking, we travel around in our camper, stop at fast-food restaurants, and picnic. We love that stuff that will harden your arteries in a hurry.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
Self-pity in its early stage is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.
Quote examples
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
English Politician
Anger ventilated often hurries towards forgiveness; anger concealed often hardens into revenge.
Quote examples
Charles Dickens
English Novelist
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Quote examples
Wayne LaPierre
American Activist
Evil walks among us, and God help us if we don't harden our schools and protect our kids.
Quote examples
Antoine Rivarol
French Journalist
Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.
Quote examples
George Sand
French Novelist
Charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.
Quote examples
Theodore Parker
American Theologian
Wealth and want equally harden the human heart.
Quote examples
Ingrid Newkirk
British Activist
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for human beings is wean them off an animal-based diet. It hardens the arteries and runs up our health-care costs. The last thing a poor person can afford is a heart attack or cancer or a stroke. And that's all linked to a meat-based diet. I think animal liberation is human liberation.
Quote examples
Dustin Poirier
American Athlete
Seven years is a long time, and seven years of fighting the best guys in the best organization in the world, the biggest organization in the world, it hardens you. You don't stay seven years without evolving. It doesn't happen.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
When I'm home, I spend Sunday with my husband. If we're not cooking, we travel around in our camper, stop at fast-food restaurants, and picnic. We love that stuff that will harden your arteries in a hurry.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
Self-pity in its early stage is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.
Quote examples
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
English Politician
Anger ventilated often hurries towards forgiveness; anger concealed often hardens into revenge.
Quote examples
Charles Dickens
English Novelist
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
Quote examples
Wayne LaPierre
American Activist
Evil walks among us, and God help us if we don't harden our schools and protect our kids.
Quote examples
Antoine Rivarol
French Journalist
Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.
Quote examples
George Sand
French Novelist
Charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.
Quote examples
Theodore Parker
American Theologian
Wealth and want equally harden the human heart.
Example 1 of 10
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