tighten

tight|en [ `taıtn ] verb **

1. ) transitive to turn something such as a screw or cover until it is tight and you cannot turn it any more

2. ) transitive to pull something such as a rope or belt until it is straighter or fits more tightly around something

a ) intransitive if something such as a rope or chain tightens, it becomes straighter or fits more tightly around something

3. ) intransitive or transitive if a muscle or a part of your body tightens, or you tighten it, it becomes hard and stiff, often because you are angry or afraid:

Her stomach tightened, anticipating the fight that was to come.

a ) intransitive if your mouth tightens or your lips tighten, your mouth looks narrow because you are angry or annoyed

b ) intransitive if your hand tightens or your fingers tighten, you hold something more tightly

4. ) tighten or tighten up transitive to make a set of rules stricter or harder to avoid:

a bill that will tighten trading rules

tighten control: The government wants to tighten its control on the press.

a ) to make an arrangement for guarding or protecting something more effectively:

Security at foreign consulates was tightened after the attack.

tighten your belt

to spend less money

tighten your grip on something

1. ) to begin to control someone or something more strictly:

The military government has tightened its grip on the province.

2. ) to hold someone or something more firmly:

He tightened his grip on her arms, making her wince.

─ opposite LOOSEN

tighten up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive same as TIGHTEN 4

2. ) intransitive to be stricter or more serious about something such as a policy or rule:

tighten up on: My first priority is to tighten up on discipline.