Tighten

Verb

 * 1)  To make tighter.
 * Please tighten that screw a quarter-turn.
 * 1)  To become tighter.
 * That joint is tightening as the wood dries.
 * 1)  To make money harder to borrow or obtain.
 * If the government doesn't tighten the money supply, inflation is certain to be harsh.
 * 1)  To raise short-term interest rates.
 * The Fed is expected to tighten by a quarter-point.

Antonyms

 * loosen

Derived terms

 * retighten
 * tighten one's belt
 * tighten the purse strings
 * tightener

Related terms

 * tight

Adverbs for Tighten
gradually; partially; remorselessly; lovingly; passionately;   abruptly;   insidiously; subtly.

Thesaurus
affix, anchor, annex, attach, back, belay, box, box in, box up, brace, cement, cinch, circumscribe, clamp, clinch, close, compress, confine, continue, cramp, crank, crank in, crush, drag out, draw, draw in, draw out, draw taut, elongate, engraft, ensphere, extend, fasten, fix, graft, grapple, hem, hem in, keep from spreading, keep within bounds, knit, lengthen, lengthen out, let out, limit, localize, make fast, moor, narrow, nip, pinch, press, produce, prolong, prolongate, protract, pull, pull in, put to, qualify, reel, reel in, reinforce, restrict, rigidify, screw up, secure, set, set to, shore up, spin out, squeeze, stiffen, stint, strain, strengthen, stretch, stretch out, string out, tackle, tauten, tense, trice up, trim, tweak, wad up, winch, wind in, windlass

Etymology
tyhtan:.

Translations

 * Czech: ,
 * Finnish:


 * French:
 * Spanish:


 * Finnish:
 * French:


 * Spanish: tensarse


 * Finnish:


 * Spanish: endurecer la política monetaria


 * Finnish: nostaa korkoa


 * French: les