Dictionary Definition
tighten
Verb
1 make tight or tighter; "Tighten the wire" [syn:
fasten]
2 become tight or tighter; "The rope
tightened"
4 narrow or limit; "reduce the influx of
foreigners" [syn: reduce]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aɪtən
Etymology
tyhtan.Verb
- To make tighter.
- Please tighten that screw a quarter-turn.
- To become tighter.
- That joint is tightening as the wood dries.
- To make money harder to borrow or obtain.
- If the government doesn't tighten the money supply, inflation is certain to be harsh.
- To raise short-term interest rates.
- The Fed is expected to tighten by a quarter-point.
Translations
to become tighter
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
affix,
anchor, annex, attach, back, belay, box, box in, box up, brace, cement, cinch, circumscribe, clamp, clinch, close, compress, confine, continue, cramp, crank, crank in, crush, drag out, draw, draw in, draw out, draw taut,
elongate, engraft, ensphere, extend, fasten, fix, graft, grapple, hem, hem in, keep from spreading,
keep within bounds, knit,
lengthen, lengthen out,
let out, limit, localize, make fast, moor, narrow, nip, pinch, press, produce, prolong, prolongate, protract, pull, pull in, put to, qualify, reel, reel in, reinforce, restrict, rigidify, screw up, secure, set, set to, shore up, spin out,
squeeze, stiffen, stint, strain, strengthen, stretch, stretch out, string
out, tackle, tauten, tense, trice up, trim, tweak, wad up, winch, wind in, windlass