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tough definition

tough (tuf)

adjective

  1. strong but pliant; that will bend, twist, etc. without tearing or breaking
  2. that will not cut or chew easily tough steak
  3. strongly cohesive; glutinous; viscous; sticky tough putty
    1. strong of physique; robust; hardy
    2. displaying mental or moral firmness
  5. hard to convince or influence; stubborn
  6. practical and realistic rather than emotional or sentimental
  7. overly aggressive; brutal or rough
    1. very difficult; toilsome
    2. vigorous or violent a tough fight
  9. Informal unfavorable; bad a tough break
  10. ☆ Slang fine; excellent: a generalized term of approval

Etymology: ME < OE toh, akin to Ger zäh, tough, viscous, prob. < IE base *denk-, to bite > tongs

noun

a tough person; thug

Related Forms:

tough Idioms

tough it out

☆
Slang to remain firm in the face of difficulty, often, specif., in a brazen or defiant way

tough out

Slang
to remain firm in the face of (a specified difficulty) a generation that toughed out the Depression

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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