stiffen

verb

1. make stiff or stiffer

e.g. Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine

2. become stiff or stiffer

e.g. He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room

3. restrict

e.g. Tighten the rules
stiffen the regulations

Synonym: tightentighten upconstrain

1. 变得僵硬;变得紧张;绷紧
If you stiffen, you stop moving and stand or sit with muscles that are suddenly tense, for example because you feel afraid or angry.

e.g. Ada stiffened at the sound of his voice...
埃达听到他的声音吓得人都僵住了。
e.g. The father's face stiffened with dismay.
父亲因为悲痛而面部表情凝重。

2. (肌肉或关节)变得僵硬;(使)变得不易弯曲;(使)变得不灵活
If your muscles or joints stiffen, or if something stiffens them, they become difficult to bend or move.

e.g. The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen.
当肌肉变得僵硬时，皮肤的供血量就减少了。

3. (态度或行为)变得更强硬，变得更严厉;(使)变得更坚定
If attitudes or behaviour stiffen, or if something stiffens them, they become stronger or more severe, and less likely to be changed.

e.g. Russian resistance suddenly stiffened because there was no room for retreat...
俄罗斯的反抗突然变得强硬起来，因为已经没有退路了。
e.g. Canada has recently stiffened its immigration rules.
加拿大最近制定了更为严格的移民规定。

4. 使(布料等)变挺;使变硬
If something such as cloth is stiffened, it is made firm so that it does not bend easily.

stiffen

e.g. This special paper was actually thin, soft Sugiwara paper that had been stiffened with a kind of paste...
这种特殊的纸实际是一种糨糊浆过的又薄又软的杉原纸。
e.g. They peeled cold stiffened gloves from their hands.
他们将冻得硬邦邦的手套从手上脱下来。

相关词组：stiffen up

1. 加强：stern tube 尾轴管 | stiffen 加强 | stiffener 加强材

2.

2. 加劲,加强：stern wave 艉波 | stiffen 加劲,加强 | stiffener 扶强材,加劲杆

3. 使硬：stiff-necked 顽固的 | stiffen 使硬 | stiffener 使僵硬的人

4. 变硬：stiff 僵硬的 | stiffen 变硬 | stifle 窒息