Englishfor English speakers
tighten
—
verb
make tight or tighter
Tighten the wire
—
verb
become tight or tighter
The rope tightened
—
verb
(= stiffen)
restrict
Tighten the rules
stiffen the regulations
—
verb
(= reduce)
narrow or limit
reduce the influx of foreigners
the
Determiner
—
Used, instead of a, to reference something specific, already known to exist.
Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book."
—
Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special.
Are you the John Smith that I went to school with?
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Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people concerned
The poor are always with us.
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Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs.
You are the best.
seam
—
noun
joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
—
noun
(= bed)
a stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit
he worked in the coal beds
—
verb
put together with a seam
seam a dress
—
noun
(= wrinkle, line)
a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
his face has many lines
ironing gets rid of most wrinkles