stiffen
verb /ˈstɪfn/
/ˈstɪfn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they stiffen | /ˈstɪfn/ /ˈstɪfn/ |
| he / she / it stiffens | /ˈstɪfnz/ /ˈstɪfnz/ |
| past simple stiffened | /ˈstɪfnd/ /ˈstɪfnd/ |
| past participle stiffened | /ˈstɪfnd/ /ˈstɪfnd/ |
| -ing form stiffening | /ˈstɪfnɪŋ/ /ˈstɪfnɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to make yourself or part of your body straight and still, especially because you are angry or frightened
- stiffen (with something) She stiffened with fear.
- stiffen something (with something) I stiffened my back and faced him.
- [intransitive, transitive] (of part of the body) to become, or to make something become, difficult to bend or move
- stiffen (up) My muscles had stiffened up after the climb.
- stiffen something stiffened muscles
- [transitive, intransitive] stiffen (something) to make an attitude or idea stronger or more powerful; to become stronger synonym strengthen
- The threat of punishment has only stiffened their resolve (= made them even more determined to do something).
- [transitive] stiffen something (with something) to make something, such as cloth, hard and unable to bend