stiffen

/'stifn/
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stiffen

The baker stiffens the cream with gelatin for the cake.

Definition

  1. Verb (transitive):

    • To make something rigid or less flexible: To cause an object or substance to become firm, hard, or inflexible.
    • To make something more severe or strict: To make rules, regulations, or attitudes more rigorous or less lenient.
    • To make a mixture thicker or more viscous: To cause a liquid or semi-liquid substance to become denser or more solid.

  2. Verb (intransitive):

    • To become rigid or tense: To physically become stiff, often as a reaction to cold, fear, or shock.
    • To become more severe or formal: To adopt a more rigid, formal, or unyielding attitude or posture.
Usage Examples

  • Verb (transitive):

    • The cold wind will stiffen the wet fabric. (It will make the fabric hard.)
    • The government decided to stiffen the penalties for fraud. (It made the penalties more severe.)
    • Add a little cornstarch to stiffen the sauce. (Make the sauce thicker.)

  • Verb (intransitive):

    • My muscles stiffen after a long run. (They become tight and less flexible.)
    • She felt her back stiffen from sitting at the desk all day. (It became rigid and painful.)
    • His smile stiffened when he heard the criticism. (It became forced and less natural.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to stiffen one's resolve": To strengthen one's determination.
    • The team's failure only served to stiffen their resolve to win next time.
  • "to stiffen with fear/anger": To become physically rigid due to a strong emotion.
    • He stiffened with anger at the unfair accusation.
Variants and Related Words
  • Stiff (adj): Rigid, not easily bent; severe.
    • The card was made of stiff paper.
  • Stiffening (n): A substance used to make something stiff; the process of becoming stiff.
    • The collar has a plastic stiffening inside.
  • Stiffly (adv): In a rigid or formal manner.
    • He bowed stiffly to the guests.
Synonyms
  • Harden: To make or become solid or rigid.
  • Tighten: To make rules or controls more strict.
  • Solidify: To make or become hard or solid.
  • Tense up: To become tense or rigid (for muscles).
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Stiffen" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The meaning is typically conveyed by the verb alone or with a preposition like "with" or "against.") - Stiffen up: (Informal) To become stiff, often from inactivity or cold. - I need to walk around; I'm stiffening up from sitting too long.

Related Idioms
  • A stiff upper lip: An attitude of remaining resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity. (While it uses "stiff," it is a fixed idiom related to the concept of rigidity.)
    • Despite the bad news, she kept a stiff upper lip.
stiffen

The baker stiffens the cream with gelatin for the cake.

Verb
  1. restrict
    • Tighten the rules
    • stiffen the regulations
  2. make stiff or stiffer
    • Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine
  3. become stiff or stiffer
    • He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room

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