[strengk-thuh
n, streng-, stren-] 
| 1. | to make stronger; give strength to. |
| 2. | Phonetics. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring more effort, as from fricative to stop or nongeminate to geminate. |
| 3. | to gain strength; grow stronger. |
| strength·en (strěngk'thən, strěng'-, strěn'-) v. strength·ened, strength·en·ing, strength·ens v. tr. To make strong or increase the strength of. v. intr. To become strong or stronger. strength'en·er n. |