---
title: toughen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «toughen» in the school dictionary: To toughen something is to make it stronger and harder to break or damage. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# toughen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, hard training, school, Toughened glass, Boots · **What happens:** toughen, be, break, damage, toughen up, deal · **To what, where:** something, rules, Toughened glass, car windows, players, feet

<!-- .vabout -->
«toughen» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [toughen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/toughen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To toughen something is to make it stronger and harder to break or damage.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:m1:1
# text = To toughen something is to make it stronger and harder to break or damage.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	toughen	toughen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	harder	hard	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, strong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **break** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **damage** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To toughen (up) a person is to make them stronger and better at dealing with difficult things.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:m2:1
# text = To toughen (up) a person is to make them stronger and better at dealing with difficult things.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	toughen	toughen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	conj	_	_
15	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	dealing	deal	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen up** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | make, strong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **deal** | gerund | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with difficult things | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with thing=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make rules or laws stricter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:m3:1
# text = To make rules or laws stricter.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	stricter	strict	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | rules or laws |  |  |  | strict *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rule=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toughened glass is used in car windows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x1:1
# text = Toughened glass is used in car windows.
1	Toughened	toughen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present · passive |  | Toughened glass |  | car windows |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hard training toughened the players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x2:1
# text = The hard training toughened the players.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	toughened	toughen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen** | past | the hard training | the players |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent player=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hiking toughens your feet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x3:1
# text = Hiking toughens your feet.
1	Hiking	hike	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	toughens	toughen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hike** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **toughen** | present |  | your feet |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent foot=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school toughened its rules on phones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x4:1
# text = The school toughened its rules on phones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	toughened	toughen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen** | past | the school | school's rules |  | phones |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |
| 2 | **rule** |  | school |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toughened glass breaks into small pieces, not sharp shards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x5:1
# text = Toughened glass breaks into small pieces, not sharp shards.
1	Toughened	toughen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shards	shard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toughen** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **break** | present | Toughened glass |  |  |  |  | into small pieces and sharp shards *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Patient into piece=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Boots get toughened by wearing them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toughen:x6:1
# text = Boots get toughened by wearing them.
1	Boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	toughened	toughen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Boots |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **toughen** | participle | Boots *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **wear** | gerund | Boots *not said here* | Boots *= boot* |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent they=Source |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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