hard
hard definition
hard (härd)
adjective
- not easily dented, pierced, cut, or crushed; resistant to pressure; firm and unyielding to the touch; rigid; solid and compact
- having firm muscles; in good bodily trim; vigorous and robust
- showing, or done with, great force or strength; powerful; violent; vigorous a hard blow
- demanding great physical or mental effort or labor; fatiguing; difficult; specif.,
- difficult to do hard work
- difficult to understand, explain, or answer a hard question
- difficult to deal with; not easily managed or controlled a man hard to live with
- firmly fastened or tied a hard knot
- not easily moved; unfeeling; callous a hard heart
- unfriendly; hostile hard feelings
- practical and shrewd or calculating a hard customer
- firm or definite, esp. in an aggressive way a hard line in foreign policy
- undeniable, reliable, or actual hard facts
- consisting of the basic facts about major events, as opposed to presenting feature stories, opinion, etc. hard news
- causing pain or discomfort; specif.,
- difficult to endure; trying; exhausting a hard life
- harsh; severe; stern a hard master, hard words
- very cold, stormy, etc.; inclement a hard winter
- harsh, stiff, and wiry: said of fibers or cotton
- having no nap: said of a finish for fabric
- having a texture that is firm, dense, wiry, etc. a dog with a hard coat
- clearly defined or having sharp contrast; distinct hard outlines
- too clear, bright, or penetrating to be pleasant a hard light
- having in solution mineral salts that interfere with the lathering and cleansing properties of soap, corrode metals, etc.: said of water
- energetic and persistent; steady and earnest a hard worker
- fermented; alcoholic hard cider
- containing a relatively high percentage of alcohol; strong hard liquor
- : said of money
- of metal, not paper
- of currency or coin, not credit
- : said of certain currencies
- that can be exchanged for gold or silver
- that is readily accepted as foreign exchange
- Phonet.: not used in these ways as a technical term by phoneticians
- designating c sounded as in can or g sounded as in gun a hard g
- voiceless, as the sound of s in sin
- not palatalized: said as of certain consonants in Slavic languages
- Agric. high in gluten content hard wheat
- Chem. not easily biodegradable: said of detergents and pesticides
- Commerce high and stable: said of a market, prices, etc.
- Mil. heavily fortified: said as of an underground installation a hard base
- Radiology of high penetrating power: said of X-rays
Etymology: ME < OE heard, akin to Ger hart < IE base *kar-, hard > Gr karyon, nut, kratos, strength
adverb
- energetically and persistently; steadily and earnestly work hard
- with strength, violence, or severity hit hard
- with difficulty: often used in hyphenated compounds hard-earned, hard-sought
- so as to withstand much wear, use, etc. hard-wearing clothes
- deeply; fully; soundly sleep hard
- firmly; tightly hold on hard
- close; near we live hard by the woods
- so as to be or make firm, solid, or rigid to freeze hard
- with vigor and to the fullest extent: used esp. in indicating direction hard alee! turn hard right
hard Idioms
be hard on
- to treat severely; be harsh toward
- to be difficult, unpleasant, or painful for
hard and fast
invariable; strict: said of rules, etc.
hard of hearing
partially deaf
hard put (to it)
having considerable difficulty or trouble
hard up
Informal in great need of something, esp. money
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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