{
    "term": "tighten",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "tighten",
            "heSheIt": "tightens"
        },
        "pastSimple": "tightened",
        "pastParticiple": "tightened",
        "ingForm": "tightening"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to hold or fix something more securely in position; to make something or become more difficult to move, open or separate",
            "sensetop": "tighten somethingtighten something up(+ adv./prep.)",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to tighten a lid/screw/rope/knot",
                    "contextForm": "tighten something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **tightened her grip** on his arm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The nuts weren't properly tightened and the wheel came off."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The brake cable needs tightening up.",
                    "contextForm": "tighten something up"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her grip seemed to tighten on the door handle.",
                    "contextForm": "(+ adv./prep.)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He saw his father's jaw tighten in irritation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This tool is for tightening screws."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her fingers tightened convulsively with every jolt she received."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His hand tightened painfully around her wrist."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to make something become stricter",
            "sensetop": "tighten something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to tighten security"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government is to tighten controls on the sale of alcohol."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Steps were taken to tighten discipline in the school."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["a little", "slightly", "etc."],
                "verb + tighten": ["seem to", "feel something", "make something"],
                "preposition": ["about", "around", "round"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to become stretched so that it cannot stretch much further; to stretch or pull something in this way",
            "sensetop": "tighten (up)tighten something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke.",
                    "contextForm": "tighten (up)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His mouth tightened into a thin line."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She tightened the straps on her backpack.",
                    "contextForm": "tighten something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to become painful or uncomfortable because of illness or emotion",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He felt his stomach tighten."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her face tightened with pain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His words made her throat tighten."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to spend less money because there is less available",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "With price increases on most goods, everyone is having to tighten their belt."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is a need for further belt-tightening."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtn/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tighten__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnz/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightens__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnd/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightened__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightening__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtn/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tighten__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnz/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightens__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnd/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightened__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈtaɪtnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ti/tighten/tightening__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": null
}