26984 words

tighten

8 definitions • 12 examples
1
to become tighter or to make something become tighter, firmer, or less easy to move:

Examples:

Tighten the straps so they don't rub.
As he struggled, the ropes tightened even more.
2
to strongly control something:

Examples:

Security was tightened at US embassies around the world.
The government moved to tighten the rules on toxic substances in the air.
[ M ] Our team will have to tighten up its defense if we want to win.
3
to make something less easily available:

Examples:

The government plans to tighten credit and slow the growth of the money supply.
4
to make something tighter, firmer, or less easy to move:

Examples:

[ T ] You’ve got to tighten the laces of your ice skates.
[ I ] His arms tightened around her.
5
to make a rule, system, or law stronger and more difficult to ignore:

Examples:

tighten controls/rules/regulation There were renewed calls to tighten controls on imported products.
6
limiting the amount of money that people and companies are able to borrow or spend, for example, by increasing interest rates:
7
if a market tightens, there becomes less of something available than is wanted or needed:

Examples:

8
to spend less money than usual for a period of time because you do not have as much money:

Examples:

The major supermarkets have started a price war as customers tighten their belts.

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