HARD | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English hard, heard, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hard and German hart

solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced

solid and firm

• the slate broke on the hard floor
• rub the varnish down when it's hard

done with a great deal of force or strength

done with force

• a hard whack

requiring a great deal of endurance or effort

requiring endurance or effort

• airship-flying was pretty hard work
• it's hard for drummers these days
• she found it hard to believe that he could be involved

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated

(of information) reliable because substantiated

• hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.

strongly alcoholic

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and mineral salts

• hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.

erect

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

(of consonant) pronounced as plosive

with a great deal of effort

with much effort

• they work hard at school

so as to be solid or firm

so as to be firm

• the mortar has set hard

to the fullest extent possible

to fullest extent

• put the wheel hard over to starboard

a road leading down across a foreshore.

road across foreshore