hardness

6 definitions • 11 examples

the quality of being difficult to bend, cut, or break:

These alloys are characterized by their extreme hardness.

Most international golf players own 40 or 50 different balls of varying hardness, weight, and bounciness.

the quality of needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort:

They were worn out by the hardness of the work and the heat of the sun.

Officers are expert in rooting out recruits who do not have the physical or mental hardness to survive battle conditions.

the quality of being difficult to understand, do, experience, or deal with:

The hardness of his life stemmed from the chronic poverty into which he was born.

There was warmth and repose enough there to set against the hardness of the day's demands.

the fact of being unpleasant or not at all gentle:

For a moment she thought she saw a hint of humour softening the hardness of his eyes.

He was angered at their hardness of heart.

(of water) the fact of containing a high level of minerals that prevent soap from making bubbles:

This plant is not fussy about water hardness, but does best in soft water.

Calcium and magnesium are the two most common minerals responsible for the hardness of water.

the quality of being firm and solid, or not easy to bend, cut, or break:

These materials are characterized by their extreme hardness.