tighten
verb/ˈtaɪ.tən/ · [ˈtʰaɪ̯tn̩]
Etymology Synchronically equivalent to tight + -en, but actually derived from Middle English tighten, from Old English tyhtan, thus originally unrelated to tight (Old English *þiht).
1
To make tighter.
- Please tighten that screw a quarter-turn.
- Just where I please, with tighten;d rein / I'll urge thee round the dusty plain.1760, Francis Fawkes, Works of Anacreon, Sappho, Bion, Moschus, and Musæus translated into English by a gentleman of Cambridge:
2
To become tighter.
- That joint is tightening as the wood dries.
3
Economics, Sciences To make money harder to borrow or obtain.
- If the government doesn't tighten the money supply, inflation is certain to be harsh.
4
Economics, Sciences To raise short-term interest rates.
- The Fed is expected to tighten by a quarter-point.
- Derived terms
- belt-tighten, mistighten, overtighten, pretighten, retighten, tightenable, tighten down, tightener, tighteningly, tighten one's belt, tighten the purse strings, tighten up, untighten
- Related terms
- tight