hardening

American  

[hahr-dn-ing] / ˈhɑr dn ɪŋ /

noun

1. a material that hardens another, as an alloy added to iron to make steel.

2. the process of becoming hard or rigid.

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hardening British  

/ ˈhɑːdənɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of becoming or making hard

2. a substance added to another substance or material to make it harder

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Etymology

Origin of hardening

First recorded in 1620–30; harden + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

But avalanche snow, which can start out loose and fluffy, consolidates quickly, hardening like concrete.

From Los Angeles Times

They have also agreed to spend another 1.5% on security-adjacent measures, such as hardening their infrastructure, which could help counter Russia’s hybrid attack.

From The Wall Street Journal

The fate of any individual home is tied to that of those nearby — it takes a whole neighborhood hardening their homes and maintaining their lawns to reach herd immunity protection against fire’s contagious spread.

From Los Angeles Times

Looming over it all is the U.S.’s hardening stance toward Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

Researchers have found comprehensive home hardening and defensible space can reduce the risk of a home burning by about a third, but not bring it down to zero.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crystallization