caseharden

[ keys-hahr-dn ]
See synonyms for: casehardencasehardenedcasehardening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. Metallurgy. to make the outside surface of (an alloy having an iron base) hard by carburizing and heat treatment, leaving the interior tough and ductile.

  2. to harden in spirit so as to render insensible or insensitive to external impressions or influences; make callous.

Origin of caseharden

1
First recorded in 1670–80; case2 + harden

Words Nearby caseharden

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use caseharden in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for case-harden

case-harden

verb(tr)
  1. metallurgy to form a hard surface layer of high carbon content on (a steel component) by heating in a carburizing environment with subsequent quenching or heat treatment

  2. to harden the spirit or disposition of; make callous: experience had case-hardened the judge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012