rigidize

To rigidize a material is to make it rigid—stiff and inflexible.

Rigidize is typically used in scientific and industrial contexts to refer to the stiffening of materials, often through the addition of chemicals. Such materials can be described as rigidized.

Rigid can be used in both literal and figurative ways. For example, a material like plastic might be described as rigid if it does not bend or bend easily. But a person can also be described as rigid if they are very strict and unwilling to bend the rules.

However, rigidize is typically only used in literal ways.

The verb rigidify can also mean to make something rigid, but it can also mean to become rigid, and it can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. A person or their personality could be said to rigidify—meaning that they become more inflexible, such as when dealing with new situations.

Example: A synthetic chemical is used to rigidize the material during the manufacturing process so that the end product is very inflexible.

The first records of the word rigidize come from the 1940s. Its base word, rigid, comes from the Latin rigidus, from the verb rig(ēre), meaning “to be stiff” or “to stiffen.” The word rigor and rigorous are based on the same root, as is the first part of the medical term rigor mortis, which refers to the state of the body when it becomes rigid after death. The suffix -ize is used in verbs and means “to make” or to render.”

To rigidize something is to make it rigid. This is often done to make the material more durable or more suited to the purpose that it’s being manufactured for.

What are some other forms related to rigidize?

• rigid (adjective)

What are some synonyms for rigidize?

• rigidify (when rigidify is used literally)
• stiffen

What are some words that share a root or word element with rigidize? 

• rigidity
• rigor

What are some words that often get used in discussing rigidize?

• material
• aluminum
• plastic
• chemical
• manufacture
• inflexible
• stiff

Rigidize is almost always used in a scientific or industrial context, especially one dealing with the manufacture of materials.

Utah State undergads developing a 1U CubeSat with a 1-meter deployable boom; used UV-cured epoxy to rigidize after deployment. #smallsat2014

— Jeff Foust (@jeff_foust) August 2, 2014

Do you use stainless steel stiffener? The FPCBs contain a stiffener with FR-4 or PI to rigidize particular areas. Rigidizing is recommended under SMT components, or on the back of the gold jack fingers, or for some use of thermal dissipation. https://t.co/M8FfTqQIsn pic.twitter.com/Ecl3Zege5w

— Fuchuangke Technology (@fuchuangke) July 2, 2019

True or False? 

Rigidize typically means to become stiff.