hardening

• 指使某物变硬或变坚固的过程或结果，如物质冷却或干燥后变硬、组织异常增厚变硬，也指加强或巩固某事物的行为。

A noun referring to the process or result of becoming hard or solid, such as the abnormal thickening of tissue, the solidification of a substance through cooling or drying, or the act of making something firmer or more compact.

不可数

1. Abnormal tissue hardeningC1formalmedical

   The abnormal thickening or hardening of body tissue, often due to disease or injury.

   组织硬化

   • The patient was diagnosed with hardening of the arteries.
   • Hardening of the skin can be a symptom of certain autoimmune disorders.
   • Doctors monitored the hardening of the tissue after the surgery.

   同义词indurationsclerosis

   反义词softening

2. Process of becoming solidB2formalscientific

   The process by which a substance becomes hard or solid through cooling, drying, or crystallization.

   硬化

   • The hardening of the concrete took several hours.
   • Crystallization leads to the hardening of the sugar solution.
   • The hardening of the clay in the kiln produces durable pottery.

   同义词coagulationcuringsettingsolidification

   反义词dissolutionliquefactionmeltingsoftening

3. Act of making firmerB2formal

   The act of making something firmer, tighter, or more compact.

   硬化过程

   • The hardening of the steel through tempering increases its strength.
   • Regular exercise contributes to the hardening of muscles.
   • The hardening of the soil after a drought made it difficult to dig.

   同义词compactionconsolidationsettingsolidificationstiffeningtempering

   反义词looseningrelaxingsoftening

• 动词，表示使某物变硬、变坚固或更稳定，也指变得无情、严厉或更坚定。

A verb used to indicate the process of becoming or making something hard, solid, or resistant, or of becoming less sympathetic or more severe.

1. Become solid or firmB1formal

   To become physically hard or solid, or to make something become hard.

   变硬

   • The cement will harden within a few hours.
   • Allow the glue to harden before moving the pieces.
   • The lava hardened into rock as it cooled.

   同义词cakeclotcongealfreezesetsolidifystiffenthicken

   反义词dissolveliquefymeltsoften

2. Become tough or unfeelingB2formal

   To become more severe, strict, or less sympathetic.

   变得冷酷

   • Years of disappointment hardened his heart.
   • The government hardened its stance on immigration.
   • She hardened herself against the criticism.

   同义词callousdesensitizeindurateinuretoughen

   反义词mellowrelentsoften

3. Strengthen or reinforceB2formal

   To make something stronger or more resistant.

   加强

   • The company hardened its security protocols after the breach.
   • Regular exercise hardens the muscles.
   • They hardened the steel to make it more durable.

   同义词annealfortifyreinforcesolidifysteelstiffenstrengthentempertoughen

   反义词debilitatesoftenundermineweaken