hardness

American  

[hahrd-nis] / ˈhɑrd nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being hard.

   the hardness of ice.

2. a relative degree or extent of this quality.

   wood of a desirable hardness.

3. that quality in water that is imparted by the presence of dissolved salts, especially calcium sulfate or bicarbonate.

4. unfeelingness or jadedness; callousness.

5. harshness or austerity, as of a difficult existence.

6. South Midland U.S. ill will; bad feelings.

   There's a lot of hardness between those two boys.

7. Mineralogy. the comparative ability of a substance to scratch or be scratched by another.

8. Metallurgy. the measured resistance of a metal to indention, abrasion, deformation, or machining.

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hardness British  

/ ˈhɑːdnɪs /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being hard

2. one of several measures of resistance to indentation, deformation, or abrasion See Mohs scale Brinell hardness number

3. the quality of water that causes it to impair the lathering of soap: caused by the presence of certain calcium salts. Temporary hardness can be removed by boiling whereas permanent hardness cannot

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hardness Scientific  

/ härd′nĭs /

1. A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched. Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale.

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Etymology

Origin of hardness

First recorded before 900; Middle English hardnes, Old English heardnes; hard, -ness

Example Sentences

“Each and every day I have to ask God to lift the hardness in my heart, because I‘m angry,” Lewis said.

From Los Angeles Times

Without the energy of talismanic all-rounder Stokes, England were bereft of penetration when the ball lost its hardness and pitch went to sleep.

From BBC

You were able to capture so much about the daddy issues that she has and where the maybe hardness or prickliness comes from.

From Los Angeles Times

Everything from traction, the hardness of the surface, how high the ball bounces, how far the ball rolls and shock absorption have been looked into.

From BBC

USC coach Lincoln Riley said after the Trojans’ victory in the Las Vegas Bowl, “There’s a toughness and a hardness that’s developing within this program.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• firmness