— toughly , adv. — toughness , n.
/tuf/ , adj., tougher, toughest , adv., n., v. adj.
1. strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.
2. not brittle or tender.
3. difficult to masticate, as food: a tough steak.
4. of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter: tough molasses.
5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy: tough troops.
6. not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn: a tough man to work for.
7. hardened; incorrigible: a tough criminal.
8. difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome: a tough problem.
9. hard to bear or endure (often used ironically): tough luck.
10. vigorous; severe; violent: a tough struggle.
11. vicious; rough; rowdyish: a tough character; a tough neighborhood.
12. practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.
13. Slang. remarkably excellent; first-rate; great.
14. hang tough , Slang. See hang (def. 50).
adv.
15. in a tough manner.
n.
16. a ruffian; rowdy.
v.t.
17. tough it out , Informal. to endure or resist hardship or adversity.
[ bef. 900; ME (adj.); OE toh; cf. D taai, G zäh ( e ) ]
Syn. 1. firm, hard. 5. durable. 6. inflexible.
Ant. 1. fragile. 5. feeble, weak.