1. (

• hardening

) abnormal hardening or thickening of tissue ;

2. (

• hardening ,
• solidifying ,
• solidification ,
• set ,
• curing

) the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization; "the hardening of concrete"; "he tested the set of the glue" ;

3. (

• hardening

) the act of making something harder (firmer or tighter or more compact) ;

1. (

• harden ,
• indurate

) become hard or harder; "The wax hardened" ;

2. (

• harden ,
• indurate ,

) make hard or harder; "The cold hardened the butter" ;

3. (

• temper ,
• harden ,

) harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel" ;

4. (

• season ,
• harden ,

) make fit; "This trip will season even the hardiest traveller" ;

5. (

• inure ,
• harden ,
• indurate ,

) cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate; "He was inured to the cold" ;