stiffen

stiffen
I
(Roget's IV) v.
1. [To grow stiff]
Syn. jellify, gel, jelly, thicken, clot, coagulate, solidify, congeal, condense, set, curdle, freeze, inspissate, cake, chill, candy, crystallize; see also harden 2 .
Ant. soften*, melt, liquefy.
2. [To cause to become stiff]
Syn. harden, benumb, anneal, starch, petrify, ossify, brace, prop, cement, fix, precipitate, evaporate, strengthen, invigorate, revive, bring to, inflate.
Ant. relax*, moisten, limber.
II
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.
harden, firm, firm up, tighten, thicken, congeal, set, gel.
ANT.: loosen, soften, liquefy
III
(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To make stiff or stiffer: starch. See FLEXIBLE. 2. To make or become tense: tauten, tense, tighten. See TIGHTEN.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stiffen — Stiff en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stiffened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stiffening}.] [See {Stiff}.] 1. To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as, to stiffen cloth with starch. [1913 Webster] Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stiffen — Stiff en, v. i. To become stiff or stiffer, in any sense of the adjective. [1913 Webster] Like bristles rose my stiffening hair. Dryden. [1913 Webster] The tender soil then stiffening by degrees. Dryden. [1913 Webster] Some souls we see, Grow… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stiffen — index fix (make firm) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • stiffen — 1590s, from STIFF (Cf. stiff) (adj.) + EN (Cf. en) (1). Related: Stiffened; stiffening …   Etymology dictionary

  • stiffen — [v] make or become harder anneal, benumb, brace, cake, candy, cement, chill, clot, coagulate, condense, congeal, crystallize, curdle, firm, fix, freeze, gel, harden, inflate, inspissate, jell, jelly, ossify, petrify, precipitate, prop, reinforce …   New thesaurus

  • stiffen — ► VERB 1) make or become stiff. 2) make or become stronger or more steadfast. DERIVATIVES stiffener noun …   English terms dictionary

  • stiffen — [stif′ən] vt., vi. to make or become stiff or stiffer stiffener n …   English World dictionary

  • stiffen — UK [ˈstɪf(ə)n] / US verb Word forms stiffen : present tense I/you/we/they stiffen he/she/it stiffens present participle stiffening past tense stiffened past participle stiffened 1) [intransitive] to suddenly hold your body in a stiff way, often… …   English dictionary

  • stiffen — stiff|en [ stıfn ] verb 1. ) intransitive to suddenly hold your body in a stiff way, often because you become nervous, worried, angry, or unfriendly: She stiffened as the footsteps came closer and closer. stiffen with/in: He stiffened with rage.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stiffen — [[t]stɪ̱f(ə)n[/t]] stiffens, stiffening, stiffened 1) VERB If you stiffen, you stop moving and stand or sit with muscles that are suddenly tense, for example because you feel afraid or angry. Ada stiffened at the sound of his voice... The father… …   English dictionary

  • stiffen — stiff|en [ˈstıfən] v 1.) if you stiffen, your body suddenly becomes firm, straight, or still because you feel angry or anxious ≠ ↑relax ▪ He touched her, and she stiffened. 2.) [I and T] to become stronger, more severe, or more determined, or to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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