stiffen

Word family

stiff·en /ˈstɪfən/ verb

1 [intransitiveI]UNFRIENDLY if you stiffen, your body suddenly becomes firm, straight, or still because you feel angry or anxious 〔身体〕变僵直，绷紧 OPP relax

He touched her, and she stiffened.

他碰到了她，她僵住了。

2 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]DETERMINED to become stronger, more severe, or more determined, or to make something do this （使）变坚强；（使）变强硬；（使）变严厉

a campaign to stiffen rules against drink-driving

要求对酒后驾车严加管制的运动

Their opposition only stiffened my resolve.

他们的反对只是更加坚定了我的决心。

3 [intransitiveI] (also stiffen up)HURT/CAUSE PAIN to become painful and difficult to move 变得酸痛僵直

His joints had stiffened.

他的关节酸痛发僵。

My back had stiffened up.

我的背都僵了。

4. [transitiveT]BEND# to make material stiff so that it will not bend easily 使〔材料〕变硬[挺]

Examples from the Corpus

stiffen• High school graduation standards must be stiffened.• I had to cut quickly, before the dough stiffened.• You can stiffen curtain fabric by using a special liquid solution.• The very thought stiffened her body in his arms and she all but scowled at him.• It also stiffened his intransigence toward his internal critics, and in turn stiffened their resistance to him.• Then all at once he stiffened, staring again towards the shore.• Leaning back into the hill and stiffening the downhill leg is the worst reaction, if the most instinctive.• Moisture will only stiffen the leather of your shoes.• Point your toes and stiffen the muscles in your legs.• The council wants to stiffen the penalty for drunk driving.• He will stiffen their resistance to cuts in welfare.• Already, Meh'Lindi's own skin seemed to be stiffening under that black second skin.• Nora stiffened when she heard her ex-boyfriend's name mentioned.

stiffened ... resolve• He had only to say he admired Grace Bird's fortitude and instantly her chin stiffened with resolve.

stiff·en verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus