hardness

[ hahrd-nis ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being hard:

   the hardness of ice.

2. a relative degree or extent of this quality:

   wood of a desirable hardness.

3. that quality in water that is imparted by the presence of dissolved salts, especially calcium sulfate or bicarbonate.
4. unfeelingness or jadedness; callousness.
5. harshness or austerity, as of a difficult existence.
6. South Midland U.S. ill will; bad feelings:

   There's a lot of hardness between those two boys.

7. Mineralogy. the comparative ability of a substance to scratch or be scratched by another. Compare Mohs scale.
8. Metallurgy. the measured resistance of a metal to indention, abrasion, deformation, or machining.

hardness

/ ˈhɑːdnɪs /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being hard
2. one of several measures of resistance to indentation, deformation, or abrasion See Mohs scale Brinell hardness number
3. the quality of water that causes it to impair the lathering of soap: caused by the presence of certain calcium salts. Temporary hardness can be removed by boiling whereas permanent hardness cannot

hardness

/ härd′nĭs /

1. A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched. Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardness¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hardnes, Old English heardnes; hard, -ness

Example Sentences

Where some hear hardness in hip-hop, Tupac heard transformation, evolution.

From The Daily Beast

His district, just south of Washington DC was among the hardness hit by the trembler.

From The Daily Beast

When she felt his hardness,” however, “the feelings evaporated.

From The Daily Beast

I portray Mecca as it really was, which means in all its hardness and brutality.

From The Daily Beast

It is of an exceedingly hard, densely compact nature; from its hardness difficult to work, but susceptible of a very high polish.

From Project Gutenberg

All things are come upon thee, because of the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great hardness of thy enchanters.

From Project Gutenberg

We have learned so much lately about self-denial, and crossing one's own inclinations, and enduring hardness.

From Project Gutenberg

A man from whom everything is torn at one blow; a man of not very strong character, not accustomed to endure hardness.

From Project Gutenberg

But those who loved him best saw the stony hardness of his face, beyond anything that came after the great stroke at St. Julien.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sharpness