Stiffening

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Stiffening \Stiff"en*ing\, n.
     1. Act or process of making stiff.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Something used to make anything stiff.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     {Stiffening order} (Com.), a permission granted by the
        customs department to take cargo or ballast on board
        before the old cargo is out, in order to steady the ship.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Stiffen \Stiff"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stiffened}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Stiffening}.] [See {Stiff}.]
     1. To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as, to
        stiffen cloth with starch.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To inspissate; to make more thick or viscous; as, to
        stiffen paste.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To make torpid; to benumb.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  stiffening
       n 1: the act of becoming stiff; "stiffening his shoulders, he
            prepared to advance"
       2: the process of becoming stiff or rigid [syn: {rigidifying},
          {rigidification}]