Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [stif-uh n]
- /ˈstɪf ən/
- /ˈstɪf.ən/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [stif-uh n]
- /ˈstɪf ən/
Definitions of stiffen word
- verb with object stiffen to make stiff. 1
- verb without object stiffen to become stiff. 1
- verb without object stiffen to become suddenly tense, rigid, or taut, as in bracing oneself for or drawing back from shock, fear, or displeasure: He stiffened, expecting to hear the worst. 1
- intransitive verb stiffen substance: become hard 1
- intransitive verb stiffen person: become physically tense 1
- transitive verb stiffen make stiff 1
Information block about the term
Origin of stiffen
First appearance:
before 1490 One of the 26% oldest English words
First recorded in 1490-1500; stiff + -en1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Stiffen
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
stiffen popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
stiffen usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for stiffen
verb stiffen
- angeled — one of a class of spiritual beings; a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels).
- angeling — one of a class of spiritual beings; a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels).
- ballasted — Nautical. any heavy material carried temporarily or permanently in a vessel to provide desired draft and stability.
- ballasting — Nautical. any heavy material carried temporarily or permanently in a vessel to provide desired draft and stability.
- braze — to decorate with, make like, or make of brass
Antonyms for stiffen
verb stiffen
- ease off — freedom from labor, pain, or physical annoyance; tranquil rest; comfort: to enjoy one's ease.
- featherbed — A bed that has a mattress stuffed with feathers.
- featherbedding — the practice of requiring an employer to hire unnecessary employees, to assign unnecessary work, or to limit production according to a union rule or safety statute: Featherbedding forced the railroads to employ firemen on diesel locomotives.
- idled — not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idle workers.
- laid back — relaxed or unhurried: laid-back music rhythms.
Top questions with stiffen
- how to stiffen fabric?
- how to stiffen felt?
- how to stiffen frosting?
- how to stiffen paper?
- how to stiffen leather?
- how to stiffen coilovers?
- how to stiffen a tutu?
- how to stiffen fabric with cornstarch?
- how to stiffen denim?
- how to stiffen stool?
- how to stiffen suspension on dirt bike?
- how to stiffen crochet earrings?
- how to stiffen felt hat?
- how to stiffen baseball glove?
- why does the body stiffen after death?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with s
- Words starting with st
- Words starting with sti
- Words starting with stif
- Words starting with stiff
- Words starting with stiffe
- Words starting with stiffen