tough

Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.

• The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.

Of food, difficult to cut or chew.

• To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours.

Of a person or animal, rugged or physically hardy.figuratively

• Only a tough species will survive in the desert.

Of a person, stubborn or persistent; capable of stubbornness or persistence.figuratively

• He had a reputation as a tough negotiator.

Of weather, harsh or severe.informal

Rowdy or rough.figuratively

• A bunch of the tough boys from the wrong side of the tracks threatened him.

Cool, awesome, great.datedslang

• They played a Beatle interview album on WBZ Boston radio. Real tough!

Of a question, difficult or demanding.figurativelyinformal

• This is a tough crowd.
• 2010, Rushworth M. Kidder, Good Kids, Tough Choices, Wiley (Jossey-Bass), page 96, What Lara faced, in fact, falls right into the pool of light beneath our second lens: making tough choices.

Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.material

Strict, not lenient.figurativelyinformal

• tough on crime

Used to indicate lack of sympathyslang

• If you don't like it, tough!

A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

• They were doing fine until they encountered a bunch of toughs from the opposition.

To endure.

• “No,” said Minott, “I've toughed it through the winter, and i want to stay and hear the bluebirds once more.

To toughen.