stiffenstiff•en /'stɪf(ə)n/

vt

1. 使变硬；使变挺

• a stiffened shirt collar 硬衬衫领

2. 使严厉；使严格

• The government decided to stiffen the penalties for corruption convictions. 政府决定加重对贪污罪的处罚。

3. 使坚定；加强

• His speech stiffened their resolve. 他的演说坚定了他们的决心。

vi

1. 变得生硬；绷紧

• His joints had stiffened. 他的关节僵了。

• The little girl stiffened with alarm from head to foot. 小姑娘完全被惊呆了。

2. 变得坚定；变得强烈

• The advancing army met stiffening resistance. 前进的部队遇到了猛烈的抵抗。

• His resolution stiffens. 他的决心变得坚定了。