TIGHTEN

reduce, tighten

(verb) narrow or limit; “reduce the influx of foreigners”

stiffen, tighten, tighten up, constrain

(verb) severely restrict in scope or extent; “tighten the rules”; “stiffen the regulations”

tighten

(verb) become tight or tighter; “The rope tightened”

tighten, fasten

(verb) make tight or tighter; “Tighten the wire”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

tighten (third-person singular simple present tightens, present participle tightening, simple past and past participle tightened)

(transitive) To make tighter.

(intransitive) To become tighter.

(economics) To make money harder to borrow or obtain.

(economics) To raise short-term interest rates.

Antonyms

• (make tighter): loosen

Anagrams

• tingeth

Source: Wiktionary

Tight"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tightened; p. pr. & vb. n. Tightening.]

Definition: 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. Tightening pulley (Mach.), a pulley which rests, or is forced, against a driving belt to tighten it.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition