harden

Universal Words verb 1 to become or make sth become firm, stiff or solid: [V] The varnish takes a few hours to harden. * (figurative) Their suspicions hardened into certainty. * [VN] a method for hardening and preserving wood 2 if your voice, face, etc. hardens, or you harden it, it becomes more serious or severe: [V] Her face hardened into an expression of hatred. * [VN] He hardened his voice when he saw she wasn't listening. 3 if sb's feelings or attitudes harden or sb/sth hardens them, they become more fixed and determined: [V] Public attitudes to the strike have hardened. * Opinion seems to be hardening against the invasion. * [VN] The incident hardened her resolve to leave the company. 4 [VN] [usuallypassive] to make sb less kind or less affected by extreme situations: Joe sounded different, hardened by the war. * They were hardened criminals (= they showed no regret for their crimes). * In this job you have to harden your heart to pain and suffering. * Life has hardened me. * I need to harden myself against disappointment. hardening noun [U,sing.]: hardening of the arteries * a hardening of attitudes towards one-parent families