tightentight‧en /ˈtaɪtn/ ●●○ (also tighten up) verb 
Tighten the screws firmly. I’d put the new tyre on, but I hadn’t tightened up the wheel.2[intransitive, transitive] if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled so that it becomes tight: When you tighten guitar strings, the note gets higher. The rope tightened around his body.3[intransitive, transitive] to become stiff or make a part of your body become stiff OPP relax: His mouth tightened into a thin, angry line. Tighten up the muscles of both arms.4tighten your grip/hold on something a)to control a place or situation more strictly: Rebel forces have tightened their hold on the capital. b)to hold someone or something more firmly: Sarah tightened her grip on my arm.5[transitive] to make a rule, law, or system more strict OPP relax: Efforts to tighten the rules have failed.tighten up on something a range of measures to tighten up on illegal share dealing6tighten your belt informal to try to spend less money than you used to: Businesses were tightening their belts and cutting jobs.7tighten the screws (on somebody) informal to try to force someone to do something, by threatening them or making things difficult for them – used in news reports: Closing the border would tighten the screws on the terrorists.8[intransitive] American English if a race or competition tightens, the distance between the competitors becomes smaller: He expects the presidential race to tighten.tighten up phrasal verb if a team or group tightens up, they start working together more effectivelytighten something ↔ up We have tightened up the defence and are winning matches as a result.
VERB TABLE
tighten
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | tighten |
| he, she, it | tightens | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | tightened |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have tightened |
| he, she, it | has tightened | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had tightened |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will tighten |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have tightened |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am tightening |
| he, she, it | is tightening | |
| you, we, they | are tightening | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was tightening |
| you, we, they | were tightening | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been tightening |
| he, she, it | has been tightening | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been tightening |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be tightening |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been tightening |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Tighten the screws gradually until the wheel is firmly in place.
- Tighten up the lid on that juice before you put it away.
- Tighten your stomach muscles and hold for three seconds.
- He changed the spanner for one the correct size and tightened the nut.
- I need to tighten the screw on my glasses.
- I think the fan belt needs to be tightened.
- Judy's lips tightened in a thin smile.
- She bent down and tightened the muzzle on the dog.
- The bill would tighten existing gun-control regulations.
- The rope tightened and Steve was pulled off balance.
- As the investigation continued into June, Dunlap could feel the vise tighten, squeezing out any possibility of hope.
- As though to tighten it a hand came to rest on hers.
- But Hill hurt a hamstring on the return, and had to leave the game after his leg tightened up.
- I felt my stomach tighten, unreason bubbling, rising.
- The cross-fence would be finished sometime today, once we got all the wires pulled out and tightened up.
- The estate owners tightened their systems, with a view to greater productivity - new breeds, crops, implements and methods.
- They believe moves to tighten the gun laws even further could result in even more firearms flooding the black market.
Longman Language Activatorto spend less money
to reduce the amount of money that you regularly spend: · We've had to cut down a lot since Craig lost his job - it's been very hard for us.cut down on: · She's already cut down on going out and buying clothes, but she doesn't have enough money to start paying off her debts.cut down somebody's expenses/bills etc: · The department has overspent this year and we will have to cut down our expenses.
also economise British to spend less money by buying only the things that you really need, or by buying cheaper things: · Sorry, I can't come out tonight - I'm trying to economize.· We're economizing this year by having a cheaper vacation.economize on (=spend less money on something): · Families on low incomes are having to economize on food and heating costs.
to spend as little money as possible, only buying things you really need, because you have very little money and want to save it to use in the future: · Chris's parents scrimped and saved so that he could go to college.· I had hardly any money left and was scrimping and saving just to buy the bare necessities.
to spend less money than you usually do because there is less money available: · Most people have to tighten their belts a little when they retire.· Governments and companies are forced to tighten their belts during a recession.
to carefully plan and control how much you spend: · We'll have to budget more carefully in the future. We've spent far more than we can afford.budget for: · By the time I had budgeted for food and rent I only had a few pounds left.
to deal very strictly with bad behaviour or crime to deal very strictly with a bad behaviour or crime by punishing people severely for it: · You'll find that Mr Evans comes down very hard on people who don't do their job properly.· The authorities are really coming down hard on tax evasion.
to start dealing with an illegal activity in a much stricter way than before: · The Athletics Federation plans to crack down on drug and steroid abuse by athletes.· The government has promised to crack down on crime.· City authorities were quick to crack down on the rioters.
to treat a particular crime or activity much more strictly than before to stop it from becoming more common: · New laws will clamp down on the illegal smuggling of cigarettes and tobacco.· Recently the courts have clamped down on joy-riding.
to make rules, laws, or controls more strict so that it is harder for people to break them: · The prime minister has promised to tighten up the law on carbon dioxide emissions.tighten up on: · The music industry is determined to tighten up on the illegal copying of CDs.
to make something tight to make something tight, either by fastening it firmly so that it cannot move, or by pulling it until it is tight: tighten a screw/bolt (=by turning it): · Tighten the screws gradually until the wheel is firmly in place.· He changed the spanner for one the correct size and tightened the nut.tighten a rope/belt/string etc: · I think the fan belt needs to be tightened.
to pull a string, rope etc hard, so that it becomes tight: · Brian wrapped some string round the parcel and pulled it tight.· She buttoned her jacket all the way up and pulled the collar tight around her neck.
to pull a piece of rope, cloth, rubber etc so that it becomes tight, making it slightly longer than it normally is: · Seth stretched the phone cord around the corner so that he could speak in private.stretch something over/between etc something: · He stretched a large tarpaulin over the vehicle, tying it down at the corners.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Fix the frame in position and tighten the screws.
(=make an embargo stricter and more difficult to break)· We are taking further action to tighten the embargo.
(=hold something more tightly)· She tightened her grip on her son’s hand.
· Her hand tightened on the knife handle.
· Maria winced as Luke tightened his hold on her fingers.
written (=their lips are pressed tightly together, usually in anger)· ‘You mean you knew about this?’ His mouth tightened.
(=make them more tight)· He tensed his stomach muscles, ready for the blow.
(=make them stricter)· The president is expected to announce new efforts to tighten gun-control regulations.
(=make them stricter)· The government recently tightened restrictions on police use of firearms.
(=make them stricter)· The EU has tightened the rules on the quality of drinking water.
Fix the frame in position and tighten the screws. (=make it better)· Mexico has tightened security along its southern border.
(=it suddenly feels tight because they are frightened)· Her stomach lurched at the thought of leaving Millfield.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Hand coils create unwanted slack and immediately tighten around the hand under load, trapping the fingers and preventing an effective arrest.· His arm tightened around her, but he didn't stir.· The noose is tightening around young Ma.· A moth flew past her face, making her jump, and his grasp tightened around her waist.· That ribbon of distress had knotted itself about her, tightening around her stomach which suddenly felt overfull of coffee and food.· Then the rope tightened around his body, and he felt something pulling him beneath the surface.
· If they can not be protected by the law from this kind of material then the law should be tightened up.· He also tightened up the championship points battle with just one race remaining.· Richards will have to rest the shoulder for at least four months following the operation to tighten up ligaments.· But Hill hurt a hamstring on the return, and had to leave the game after his leg tightened up.· Thus, in times of slack demand it is not uncommon to find managements tightening up on industrial discipline.· Sit tight, and hope that when they dry out the vinyl skin will tighten up again.· It is easy to be successful when the world is booming, but not so easy when things tighten up.· Then for a hundred years or so they had tightened up, and Sam had to squint and blink to count them.
NOUN· His arm tightened around her, but he didn't stir.· His arm shook and he tightened his grip on the stock of the rifle to still it.· Her arm tightened around him, her other hand resting loosely on the shoulders of another singer.· My arms tightened; my jaw tightened; my hands tightened.· Her body relaxed against him in sleep and his arms tightened, supporting her instinctively.· So why were his arms tightening about her? she wondered as the kiss deepened.· Instead, his arm tightened round her as he drew her towards him.
· At the same time many working people have had their belts tightened for them as factories closed and unions accepted cutbacks.· More belt tightening and job cuts are needed to keep spending in line, officials said.
· Moreover, management did not take the opportunities presented by the new machinery to tighten control over production.· She could feel, too, the Communists tightening their control.· We will tighten controls against exploitation, we will create more National Parks and we will improve access to the countryside.· After nearly losing the 1971 election to opposition leader Dae-Jung Kim, Park tightened his control even more, smothering all dissent.· While tightening control of film content, the government has opened the film industry to market forces in two ways.· The chair stopped, and the hands directing it tightened on the controls until the knuckles turned white.· Other reasons given were the sale of subsidiaries, tightening controls on costs and improving the structures and systems of group companies.· The consensus is that the Kiev government has tightened controls over the small arms trade in recent months.
· If that bargain now falters, so may efforts to tighten up the inspection regime that backs up the treaty.
· Simon does not elaborate, but his face begins to tighten as he recalls some disagreeable incident.· Looking again at the words he had written he realized that his face was once more tightening, his lips once again curling.· Felipe was there alone and his face tightened as Mitch and Ana came in together.· A neck-firming cream, £85, and face-tightening mask, £50, have also just been launched.· Immediately his face tightened up and he strode away.
· His finger tightened on the trigger.· Ashley's fingers tightened involuntarily around the glass.· As the fingers tightened he resigned himself to the worst.· The gaping round mouth of the gun, centred squarely on his left eye. Finger tightening on trigger.· Far from relenting, his fingers tightened even more, nearly lifting Isabel from the ground.· Hepzibah's fingers tightened on hers.· This time his fingers seemed to tighten in her hair, drawing her mouth like a prisoner against his.
· The government wants to tighten immigration controls, but it does not want to be seen as anti-Semitic.· But the government was forced to tighten monetary policy in 1995 and last year; the boom slowed.· They have urged the Government to tighten up the apparent loophole which allows motorists to speed.· The consensus is that the Kiev government has tightened controls over the small arms trade in recent months.
· Whitlock tried to explain but the policeman's grip tightened on the revolver and he repeated the order.· Their captor had instantly pulled them to a stop, his grip tightening painfully on their necks.· Instantly her hands tightened their grip.· D'Arcy's grip tightened round her shoulders as he felt her hot tears against his skin.· Rain felt her protective grip on Barbara Coleman tighten, but the woman was relieved to see him.· As soon as we heard the engine his grip tightened.· The grip tightened slightly, then relaxed again.
· Her hand tightened convulsively on the receiver, the earpiece jerked against her face.· My arms tightened; my jaw tightened; my hands tightened.· Sarella felt his hand tighten on hers and she leaned against him to reassure him.· Nick's hand tightened in hers.· Instantly her hands tightened their grip.· The chair stopped, and the hands directing it tightened on the controls until the knuckles turned white.· Other hands tightened my blindfold until it hurt and started fitting a cloth over my mouth.· Only when he told her that he intended leaving that evening did he feel her hand tighten in his.
· The hold tightened as Saxon thegns and clergy gave way to Normans.
· And, as Silas stood listening to her, Lucy noticed his jaw tighten in anger.· My arms tightened; my jaw tightened; my hands tightened.· Jehan stroked his moustache again, and he saw his father's jaw tighten in irritation.
· They believe moves to tighten the gun laws even further could result in even more firearms flooding the black market.· Let's keep our roads safe and tighten motoring law to rid our roads of these death traps once and for all.· A recent decision tightening up the laws relating to overseas players will greatly restrict the flow of foreigners to Ireland.· The Government's approach has been to tackle the misuse of knives by tightening the law on possession of knives in public.
· Theda's lips had tightened, but she had made no complaint.· Frank said, his lips tightening.· Her lips tightened, but she said nothing.· She looked up from her Tarot cards as Topaz approached, her thin lips tightening.· Marguerite's tight shoulders told her that and Alain's lips tightened too as the tension in the car reached him.· Whereas she - Maria's lips tightened, confining a moan of self-disgust.
· Maria's tenderly passionate mouth tightened.· I saw the way his mouth tightened as he tried to hide his delight in giving it to me.· I felt my lip curl, and the inside of my mouth dry out and tighten as if I had been sucking lemons.
· Lisa was instantly aware of her muscles tightening.· He went up on his toes, the muscles in his calves tightening.· It made the muscles in your backside tighten up.· Jane felt her muscles begin to tighten again.· Lissa felt her stomach muscles tighten, and turned away.
· Their captor had instantly pulled them to a stop, his grip tightening painfully on their necks.· Franco's noose began to tighten round Catalonia's neck.
· In taps, replacing the tap washer and tightening the gland nut will both contribute to stopping water hammer occurring.· All it took was tightening a nut.· Turn the water on slowly and tighten the nuts if there are any leaks. 6.· He conceded, however, that the company tightened a nut in the fuse box on Saab models after 1992.· He changed the spanner for one clearly the wrong size and tried vainly to tighten the nut again.
· Normally a Federal Reserve faced with such a situation would tighten monetary policy.· But the government was forced to tighten monetary policy in 1995 and last year; the boom slowed.· This has often led him to tighten monetary policy while everybody around was urging him to ease.· The only way out would be to tighten fiscal policy.· The Bundesbank tightened monetary policy sharply in 1965.
· In reality, Wilson had tightened up reporting procedures so that fewer thefts escaped the record due to carelessness, corruption, etc.· It has now tightened up its financial procedures.· On the plus side, the appeals system has undoubtedly caused many LEAs to tighten up their procedures.· At the inquest, the coroner recorded an open verdict, but urged staff to tighten up procedures.
· Or it may be that the race is in fact tightening up as the Nov. 5 Election Day nears.
· He would end a corporate capital tax, privatize some government-owned corporations, tighten welfare rules and reduce trade-union powers.· Last year, Congress also tightened habeas rules, making it harder for a state prisoner to win a federal hearing.· Then, after five years, the Treasury tightened the rules again.· But ministers want to tighten the rules to ensure only people unable to perform any sort of work would qualify for payment.· Mr Brown could have tightened the rules further.· The army also said it had tightened the rules governing when its soldiers are allowed to shoot.· Nevertheless Mr Brown could have introduced a further tightening of the rules inhis Budget.
· Wardair yesterday accepted responsibilty and disclosed plans to tighten security.· This move to tighten security is good news for card users.
· In recent years, most countries have tightened their standards of waste disposal.· Difficulties sometimes arise when the agency redefines pollution control policy for a stretch of water and, wishes to tighten existing standards.
· She shuddered, and the knot in her stomach tightened.· I felt my stomach tighten, unreason bubbling, rising.· But when he had smiled at her she had felt her stomach tighten in desire.· My stomach tightened to stop them.· His stomach tightened, his throat writhed.· His stomach tightened as he entered the place.· She then stood next to the telephone box, her stomach beginning to tighten in a way which was becoming sickeningly familiar.· Something prickly crawled up my spine to the back of my neck, and my stomach tightened.
· I would have yelled it if my throat hadn't tightened up.· When third down arrives now, the Raiders' throats tighten and their predictability increases.· Jean's throat tightened, and she grasped Francesca's hand hard.· The instant she saw him, leaning with careless masculine grace against the wall, Isabel's throat tightened.· My throat began to tighten until it hurt.· His hands lingered for a moment, his fingers hinting at a strength that made her throat tighten.
VERB· Sarella felt his hand tighten on hers and she leaned against him to reassure him.· As the investigation continued into June, Dunlap could feel the vise tighten, squeezing out any possibility of hope.· Despite the transparent nonsense of it all, Finlayson felt his guts tighten at the word cowardice.· I felt my stomach tighten, unreason bubbling, rising.· But when he had smiled at her she had felt her stomach tighten in desire.· I felt a tightening in my chest.· She watched Mr Evans turn in his chair and look up at his sister and felt her chest tighten.· He looked down at the woman kneeling by his side and felt his chest tighten with his love for her.
· Nevertheless, tension seemed to tighten the air between them.· Something seemed to tighten and die inside her.· This time his fingers seemed to tighten in her hair, drawing her mouth like a prisoner against his.· In fact, his features seemed to tighten into even harsher lines.
· But ministers want to tighten the rules to ensure only people unable to perform any sort of work would qualify for payment.· Chris's six-point plan is for those who want to tighten tummy muscles and lose a bit of flab.· And if we want to tighten and tone our bodies, we need to do toning exercises that work specific muscle groups.· The government wants to tighten immigration controls, but it does not want to be seen as anti-Semitic.· Buckingham Palace said Di wanted to tighten her belt along with everyone else.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► tighten the screws (on somebody)
- He tightened his grip on the sub-machine-gun, waited for the helicopter to slow and swing towards him.
- His arm shook and he tightened his grip on the stock of the rifle to still it.
- However, planning permission is required, and legislation is tightening its grip on mast sites.
- It was only when they tensed, curling and tightening their grip on the floor, did he realise they were alive.
- Oats tightened his grip on the axe.
- The suspended despair inside her splintered into a shuddering sob and Fernando tightened his hold on her.
- There were months of interrogations, torture and repression as the military tightened its grip on the country.
- They tightened their grip on the girl.
- Colleges have tightened their belts and are giving fewer scholarships than before.
- Governments and companies are forced to tighten their belts during a recession.
- Most people have to tighten their belts a little when they retire.
- Let them tighten their belts like we have to.
- Others will tighten their belts, downscale their programs, sell more t-shirts and look for local sources of revenue.
- The harsh years of the Depression were causing everyone to tighten their belts.
WORD FAMILYadverbtighttightlynountightnessadjectivetightverbtighten
1[transitive] to close or fasten something firmly by turning it OPP loosen: Tighten the screws firmly. I’d put the new tyre on, but I hadn’t tightened up the wheel.2[intransitive, transitive] if you tighten a rope, wire etc, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled so that it becomes tight: When you tighten guitar strings, the note gets higher. The rope tightened around his body.3[intransitive, transitive] to become stiff or make a part of your body become stiff OPP relax: His mouth tightened into a thin, angry line. Tighten up the muscles of both arms.4tighten your grip/hold on something a)to control a place or situation more strictly: Rebel forces have tightened their hold on the capital. b)to hold someone or something more firmly: Sarah tightened her grip on my arm.5[transitive] to make a rule, law, or system more strict OPP relax: Efforts to tighten the rules have failed.tighten up on something a range of measures to tighten up on illegal share dealing6tighten your belt informal to try to spend less money than you used to: Businesses were tightening their belts and cutting jobs.7tighten the screws (on somebody) informal to try to force someone to do something, by threatening them or making things difficult for them – used in news reports: Closing the border would tighten the screws on the terrorists.8[intransitive] American English if a race or competition tightens, the distance between the competitors becomes smaller: He expects the presidential race to tighten.tighten up phrasal verb if a team or group tightens up, they start working together more effectivelytighten something ↔ up We have tightened up the defence and are winning matches as a result.