[tough] adj [ME, fr. OE toh; akin to OHG zahi tough] (bef. 12c) 1 a: strong or firm in texture but flexible and not brittle b: not easily chewed
2: glutinous, sticky
3: characterized by severity or uncompromising determination
4: capable of enduring strain, hardship, or severe labor
5: very hard to influence: stubborn
6: difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with "a ~ question" "~ luck" 7: stubbornly fought "a ~ contest" 8: unruly, rowdyish 9: marked by absence of softness or sentimentality syn see strong -- tough.ly adv -- tough.ness n
[2]tough adv (14c): in a tough manner "talks ~ and insensitively --A. E. Stevenson d.1965" [3]tough vt (1830): to bear unflinchingly: endure--usu. used with out esp. in the phrase tough it out [4]tough n (1866): a tough person: rowdy