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Harden (Verb)

Harden by reheating and cooling in oil; "temper steel".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

The blacksmith heated the metal repeatedly to harden it into a durable alloy.
Quenching the metal in oil helped harden the steel, making it ideal for sword-making.
To harden the metal, the blacksmith submerged it in hot oil, then quickly cooled it in cold water.
The artisan carefully hardened the blade by heating and cooling it multiple times.
The process of heating and quenching the metal in oil was used to harden the steel to desired strength.

Cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate; "He was inured to the cold".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

The soldiers had to harden themselves to the harsh realities of war.
Years of working in the industry had hardened her to the criticism.
She had hardened herself to his cruel words and now they barely affected her.
He had to harden his heart to the suffering of others in order to function as a doctor in a war zone.
After a few months on the job, she had hardened to the long hours and exhausting work.

Become hard or harder; "The wax hardened".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

Make hard or harder; "The cold hardened the butter".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

The blast furnace temperatures hardened the steel alloy to create a durable product.
The repeated pounding on the metal object will harden it over time.
A long period of drought had hardened the dry soil and made it difficult to cultivate.
She had hardened her stance on the issue and refused to compromise further.
Heat from the kiln fired and hardened the clay to create a beautiful ceramic vase.