Tough \Tough\, a. [Compar. Tougher; superl. Toughest.]

[OE. tough, AS. t[=o]h, akin to D. taai, LG. taa, tage, tau, OHG. z[=a]hi, G. z[aum]he, and also to AS. getenge near to, close to, oppressive, OS. bitengi.]

1. Having the quality of flexibility without brittleness; yielding to force without breaking; capable of resisting great strain; as, the ligaments of animals are remarkably tough. ``Tough roots and stubs. '' --Milton.

2. Not easily broken; able to endure hardship; firm; strong; as, tough sinews. --Cowper.

A body made of brass, the crone demands, . . . Tough to the last, and with no toil to tire. --Dryden.

The basis of his character was caution combined with tough tenacity of purpose. --J. A. Symonds.

3. Not easily separated; viscous; clammy; tenacious; as, tough phlegm.

4. Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow.

So tough a frame she could not bend. --Dryden.

5. Severe; violent; as, a tough storm. [Colloq.]

`` A tough debate. '' --Fuller.

To make it tough, to make it a matter of difficulty; to make it a hard matter. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)