Stiffen has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
Verb
Verb
1
become stiff or stiffer
"He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room"
2
make stiff or stiffer
"Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine"
3
severely restrict in scope or extent
"tighten the rules"
"stiffen the regulations"
Example Sentences
"He stiffened when he saw his boss enter the room"
verb
"Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine"
verb
"tighten the rules"
verb
"stiffen the regulations"
verb
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
Origin
Stiffen comes from Middle English stifnen, which was formed by adding the suffix -en to the word stiff. Its original meaning relates to making something hard or rigid.