adj. & n.
--adj.
1. hard to break, cut, tear, or chew; durable; strong.
2 (of a person) able to endure hardship; hardy.
3 unyielding, stubborn, difficult (it was a tough job; a tough customer).
4 colloq. a acting sternly; hard (get tough with). b (of circumstances, luck, etc.) severe, unpleasant, hard, unjust.
5 colloq. criminal or violent (tough guys).
--n. a tough person, esp. a ruffian or criminal.
Phrases and idioms:
tough guy colloq.
1. a hard unyielding person.
2 a violent aggressive person. tough it (or tough it out) colloq. endure or withstand difficult conditions. tough-minded realistic, not sentimental. tough-mindedness being tough-minded.
Derivatives:
toughen v.tr. & intr. toughener n. toughish adj. toughly adv. toughness n.
Etymology: OE toh