stiffness
[ stif-nis ]
/ ˈstɪf nɪs /
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noun
the state or condition of being rigid or firm:The bicycle’s frame is well balanced, with excellent stiffness throughout.Conventional wisdom has been that longer knife blades need more carbon for stiffness.
the state or condition of being unable to move easily:Proper stretching will help you avoid joint stiffness and muscle tension after a workout.
lack of ease or grace:The teacher offers advice on how to get over the stiffness or outright paralysis that can creep in when people make writing into a “big deal.”
the state or condition of being rigidly formal:There was a stiffness to the encounter, but the ambassador was not unfriendly.If representatives meet only under official circumstances, a degree of stiffness is introduced which does not allow people to exchange ideas as freely.
the state or condition of being excessive, difficult, or severe:The council expressed concern about the stiffness of the fines and sentences for such minor infractions.
(of soil) the state or condition of being compact; density: A variety of sediment samples are needed in order to recover different types of sediment, mainly based on their stiffness.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
OTHER WORDS FROM stiffness
o·ver·stiff·ness, nounsem·i·stiff·ness, nounun·stiff·ness, nounWords nearby stiffness
stiff-arm, stiff as a board, stiffen, stiffener, stiff-necked, stiffness, stiff upper lip, stiffy, stifle, stifled, stifling
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023