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tough - 5 dictionary results
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tough

  [tuhf] ,adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun, verb
Use tough in a Sentence
–adjective
1. strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.
2. not brittle or tender.
3. difficult to masticate, as food: a tough steak.
4. of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter: tough molasses.
5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy: tough troops.
6. not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn: a tough man to work for.
7. hardened; incorrigible: a tough criminal.
8. difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome: a tough problem.
9. hard to bear or endure (often used ironically): tough luck.
10. vigorous; severe; violent: a tough struggle.
11. vicious; rough; rowdyish: a tough character; a tough neighborhood.
12. practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.
13. Slang. remarkably excellent; first-rate; great.
–adverb
14. in a tough manner.
–noun
15. a ruffian; rowdy.
—Idioms
16. hang tough, Slang. hang (def. 56).
17. tough it out, Informal. to endure or resist hardship or adversity.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (adj.); OE tōh; cf. D taai, G zäh(e)

Related forms:
toughly, adverb
toughness, noun

Synonyms:
1. firm, hard. 5. durable. 6. inflexible.

Antonyms:
1. fragile. 5. feeble, weak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tough
tough   (tŭf)   
adj.   tough·er, tough·est
  1. Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient: a tough all-weather fabric.
  2. Hard to cut or chew: tough meat.
  3. Physically hardy; rugged: tough mountaineers; a tough cop.
  4. Severe; harsh: a tough winter.
    1. Aggressive; pugnacious.
    2. Inclined to violent or disruptive behavior; rowdy or rough: a tough street group.
  6. Demanding or troubling; difficult: skipping the toughest questions.
  7. Strong-minded; resolute: a tough negotiator.
  8. Slang Unfortunate; too bad: a tough break.
  9. Slang Fine; great.
n.  A violent or rowdy person; a hoodlum or thug.

[Middle English, from Old English tōh.]
tough'ly adv., tough'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Tough

Tough\, a. [Compar. Tougher; superl. Toughest.] [OE. tough, AS. t[=o]h, akin to D. taai, LG. taa, tage, tau, OHG. z[=a]hi, G. z[aum]he, and also to AS. getenge near to, close to, oppressive, OS. bitengi.]

1. Having the quality of flexibility without brittleness; yielding to force without breaking; capable of resisting great strain; as, the ligaments of animals are remarkably tough. "Tough roots and stubs. " --Milton.

2. Not easily broken; able to endure hardship; firm; strong; as, tough sinews. --Cowper.

A body made of brass, the crone demands, . . . Tough to the last, and with no toil to tire. --Dryden.

The basis of his character was caution combined with tough tenacity of purpose. --J. A. Symonds.

3. Not easily separated; viscous; clammy; tenacious; as, tough phlegm.

4. Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow.

So tough a frame she could not bend. --Dryden.

5. Severe; violent; as, a tough storm. [Colloq.] " A tough debate. " --Fuller.

To make it tough, to make it a matter of difficulty; to make it a hard matter. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : tough
Spanish: resistente, fuerte,
German: hart,
Japanese: 丈夫な
More Translations »

tough 
O.E. toh "difficult to break or chew," from P.Gmc. *tankhuz (cf. M.L.G. tege, M.Du. taey, Du. taai, O.H.G. zach, Ger. zäh). See rough for spelling change. Fig. sense of "strenuous, difficult, hard to beat" is first recorded c.1205; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1619. The noun meaning "street ruffian" (U.S.) is from 1866. Toughen is attested from 1582. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, Amer.Eng. Tough guy first recorded 1932. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit is from 1946.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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tough

In addition to the idioms beginning with tough, also see get tough; gut (tough) it out; hang tough; hard (tough) act to follow; hard (tough) nut to crack.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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