tighten Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make tight or tighter
    fasten.
    • Tighten the wire
  2. verb become tight or tighter
    • The rope tightened
  3. verb restrict
    stiffen; constrain; tighten up.
    • Tighten the rules
    • stiffen the regulations
  4. verb narrow or limit
    reduce.
    • reduce the influx of foreigners

WordNet

Tight"en transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Tightened ; present participle & verbal noun Tightening
Definitions
  1. To draw tighter; to straiten; to make more close in any manner.
    Just where I please, with tightened rein I'll urge thee round the dusty plain. Fawkes.

Webster 1913