STRENGTHENING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does strengthening mean? 

• STRENGTHENING (noun)
  The noun STRENGTHENING has 2 senses:

1. becoming stronger

2. the act of increasing the strength of something

  Familiarity information: STRENGTHENING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRENGTHENING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Becoming stronger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("strengthening" is a kind of...):

shift; transformation; transmutation (a qualitative change)

Antonym:

weakening (becoming weaker)

Derivation:

strengthen (gain strength)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of increasing the strength of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("strengthening" is a kind of...):

increase; step-up (the act of increasing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "strengthening"):

concentration (strengthening the concentration (as of a solute in a mixture) by removing diluting material)

Antonym:

weakening (the act of reducing the strength of something)

Derivation:

strengthen (make strong or stronger)

 Context examples 

Band of fibrous tissue connecting bone to bone or cartilage to bone thereby supporting or strengthening a joint.

(Ligament, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers were able to increase the material's fatigue life by up to 100 times by strengthening internal rod-like struts.

(Discovery may lead to osteoporosis treatment, National Science Foundation)

All that night we sat together, our arms round each other, each strengthening each for the troubles that lay before us.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A pain management technique based on improvement of functional ability, strengthening, and maintenance of range of motion.

(Exercise Pain Management, NCI Thesaurus)

The WHO also recommends older adults perform muscle-strengthening exercises on at least two or more days a week.

(Aerobic Exercise May Mildly Delay, Slightly Improve Alzheimer's Symptoms, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Understanding how the different mineral nanostructures contribute to strengthening the eggshell could allow scientists to genetically select laying hens based on specific traits, which would put healthier, more resistant eggs into circulation.

(Study paves way for healthier and more robust eggs, University of Granada)

Although not considered essential nutrients, some flavonoids may be beneficial to health by strengthening and protecting blood vessels and connective tissue and acting as anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and antiviral agents.

(Flavonoid, NCI Thesaurus)

He shouted a hoarse order, and his seamen worked swiftly and silently, heightening the bulwarks and strengthening them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This relationship means that low and high scores obtained in such personality traits are respectively linked to lower or higher propensities to make humorous comments aimed at building and strengthening social relationships.

(Self-defeating humour promotes psychological well-being, University of Granada)

Listening to each other and working to resolve conflicts are important in strengthening the family.

(Family Issues, NIH)