0 past simple and past participle of tighten
1 to become tighter or to make something become tighter, firmer, or less easy to move:
Carefully tighten the clamp until it firmly supports the pipette in a vertical position.
The dry atmosphere tightens my skin.
This war of position for a popular, pluralistic, and participatory nationalism was lost as the military gradually tightened its authoritarian rule through the 1950s.
The final borders that were used were thus histological ones, tightened by physiological criteria.
Rather, wires are seen a bit like ropes that can be knotted or tightened (like chemical bonds) with ropes of other components.
But the definitions of serious illnesses have been tightened, and fewer patients are now entitled to the guarantee.
