Word forms: comparative hardier, superlative hardiest
1. adjective
Plants that are hardy are able to survive cold weather.
The silver-leaved varieties of cyclamen are not quite as hardy.
hardinessuncountable noun
...the hardiness of other species that have blue flowers.
2. adjective
People and animals that are hardy are strong and able to cope with difficult conditions.
It should not surprise us that such an environment has produced a hardy and independentpeople.
Hardy antelope wander in from the desert.
hardinessuncountable noun
...the hardiness, endurance, and courage of my companions.
These Pacific oysters are known for their hardiness.
Synonyms: resilience, fortitude, toughness, robustness More Synonyms of hardy
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe a group of people as hardy, you mean that they have been very patient or loyal, or have been trying hard to do something in difficult conditions.
...the ten hardy supporters who had made the trek to Dublin from Riga.
More Synonyms of hardy
hardy in British English1
(ˈhɑːdɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -dier or -diest
1.
having or demanding a tough constitution; robust
2.
bold; courageous
3.
foolhardy; rash
4.
(of plants) able to live out of doors throughout the winter
Word origin
C13: from Old French hardi bold, past participle of hardir to become bold, of Germanic origin; compare Old English hierdan to harden1, Old Norse hertha, Old High German herten
hardy in British English2
(ˈhɑːdɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-dies
any blacksmith's tool made with a square shank so that it can be lodged in a square hole in an anvil
Word origin
C19: probably from hard
Hardy in British English
(ˈhɑːdɪ)
noun
1. Oliver. See Laurel and Hardy
2.
Thomas. 1840–1928, British novelist and poet. Most of his novels are set in his native Dorset (part of his fictional Wessex) and include Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895), after which his work consisted chiefly of verse
3.
Sir Thomas Masterman. 1769–1839, British naval officer, flag captain under Nelson (1799–1805): 1st Sea Lord (1830)
Hardy in American English
(ˈhɑrdi)
1.
Oliver1892-1957; U.S. film comedian
2.
Thomas1840-1928; Eng. novelist & poet
hardy in American English1
(ˈhɑrdi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈhardier or ˈhardiest
1.
bold and resolute; daring; courageous
2.
too bold; full of temerity; rash
3.
able to withstand fatigue, privation, etc.; robust; vigorous
4.
able to survive the winter without special care
said of plants
Word origin
ME & OFr hardi, pp. of hardir, to make bold < Frank *hardjan, to make hard < *hard-, hard
hardy in American English2
(ˈhɑrdi)
noun
a chisel with a square shank, used by blacksmiths: it fits into a square hole (hardy hole) in the anvil
Word origin
prob. hard + -y3
Examples of 'hardy' in a sentence
hardy
Although hardy, young plants can benefit from frost protection for the first few years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although hardy, this plant prefers sunshine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most spring flowers and hardy garden plants can withstand this.
The Sun (2008)
No garden regardless of size should be without this hardy perennial plant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are not fully hardy and can be killed by frosts.
The Sun (2013)
Time to sow hardy annuals where they are to flower.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is not quite so hardy either and may not survive the winter.
Kitto, Dick Planning the Organic Vegetable Garden (1986)
Only a few hardy souls survived until the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most hardy fruit plants need a period of cold weather during the winter to encourage flowering.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All these varieties are hardy herbaceous perennials.
Stickland, Sue Planning the Organic Herb Garden (1986)
There are some hardy annuals in football writing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Consider alternative hardy plants for a similar look.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Sow hardy annuals now for early flowering next year and get those bulbs planted.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
No one else seemed quite so tall, or as tough and hardy in the body.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
They are less hardy but in a normal garden it's no problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All the popular hardy annual flowers grow well from an April sowing.
The Sun (2006)
THERE was always something of a lull between the hardy spring flowers and the half hardy summer bedding plants.
The Sun (2012)
He's really robust and hardy.
The Sun (2015)
This makes them ideal container plants and means that you can place them where you want them and easily protect the less hardy varieties through the winter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
After a seriously cold period it's not a bad idea to wait a little and delay buying anything less than really hardy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Where to grow Any aspect, fully hardy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are some, like rosemary, which are quite hardy.
The Sun (2012)
If you're buying bedding plants, remember that most are not fully hardy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
hardy
British English: hardy ADJECTIVE
Plants that are hardy are able to survive cold weather.
The silver-leaved varieties of cyclamen are not quite as hardy.
American English: hardy
Brazilian Portuguese: forte
Chinese: > 耐寒的植物
European Spanish: resistente
French: rustique
German: winterhart
Italian: resistente al gelo
Japanese: 耐寒性の
Korean: 추위에 강한
European Portuguese: forte
Latin American Spanish: resistente
All related terms of 'hardy'
crack hardy
to disguise one's discomfort , etc; put on a bold front
half-hardy
(of a cultivated plant) able to survive out of doors except during severe frost
hardy plant
A plant is a living thing that grows in the earth and has a stem , leaves, and roots .
hardy annual
a plant that can withstand freezing temperatures and which completes its life cycle within a year
hardy perennial
a plant that lasts three seasons or more and that can withstand freezing temperatures
Hardy-Weinberg law
a principle stating that in an infinitely large, randomly mating population in which selection , migration , and mutation do not occur, the frequencies of alleles and genotypes do not change from generation to generation
Laurel and Hardy
a team of US film comedians , Stan Laurel , 1890–1965, born in Britain, the thin one, and his partner , Oliver Hardy , 1892–1957, the fat one
Chinese translation of 'hardy'
hardy
(ˈhɑːdɪ)
adj
[animal, person]能吃苦的 (néng chīkǔ de)
[plant]耐寒的 (nàihán de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
able to stand difficult conditions
They grew up to be farmers, round-faced and hardy.
Synonyms
strong
I'm not strong enough to carry him.
tough
tough leather boots and trousers
robust
His robust physique counts for much in the modern game.
sound
His body was still sound.
fit
It will take a very fit person to beat me.
healthy
She had a normal pregnancy and delivered a healthy child.
vigorous
He was a vigorous, handsome young man.
rugged (US, Canadian)
He's rugged and durable, but not the best technical boxer.
sturdy
She was a short, sturdy woman in her early sixties.
hale (old-fashioned)
looking hale and hearty
stout
a great stout fellow, big in brawn and bone
stalwart
I was never in any danger with my stalwart bodyguard around me.
hearty
She was still hearty and strong when she turned 80.
lusty
his lusty singing in the open park
in fine fettle
Opposites
soft
,
weak
,
delicate
,
fragile
,
frail
,
feeble
,
sickly
,
weedy
2 (adjective)
A few hardy souls leapt into the encircling seas.
Synonyms
courageous
She is clearly a very tough and courageous woman.
brave
brave people who dare to challenge the tyrannical regimes
daring
a daring rescue attempt
bold
She becomes a bold, daring rebel.
heroic
The heroic sergeant risked his life to rescue 29 fishermen.
manly
He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow him.
He was the ideal of manly beauty.
gritty
a gritty determination to get to the top
feisty (informal)
At 66, she was as feisty as ever.
resolute
intrepid
an intrepid space traveller
valiant
valiant attempts by neighbours and firefighters to rescue them
plucky
The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life.
valorous
stouthearted (old-fashioned)
Opposites
soft
,
weak
,
feeble
,
weedy (informal)
,
faint-hearted
,
wussy (slang)
,
wimpish or wimpy (informal)
3 (adjective)
Synonyms
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
reckless
He is charged with causing death by reckless driving.
audacious
an audacious plan to win the presidency
brazen
a brazen dive to win a free-kick
foolhardy
He had to be restrained from foolhardy action.
headstrong
impudent
Some were well behaved, while others were impudent.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of audacious
Definition
recklessly bold or daring
an audacious plan to win the presidency
Synonyms
daring,
enterprising,
brave,
bold,
risky,
rash,
adventurous,
reckless,
courageous,
fearless,
intrepid,
valiant,
daredevil,
death-defying,
dauntless,
venturesome
in the sense of bold
Definition
courageous, confident, and fearless
She becomes a bold, daring rebel.
Synonyms
fearless,
enterprising,
brave,
daring,
heroic,
adventurous,
courageous,
gritty,
gallant,
gutsy (slang),
audacious,
intrepid,
valiant,
plucky,
undaunted,
unafraid,
unflinching,
dauntless,
ballsy (taboo, slang),
lion-hearted,
valorous
in the sense of brave
Definition
having or displaying courage, resolution, or daring
brave people who dare to challenge the tyrannical regimes