hardness

Definition

Hardness is how difficult it is to scratch or deform a material. Hard materials are difficult to scratch or deform, while soft materials are easy to scratch or deform.

How can the word be used?

It was important to find out the hardness of the material to check it would not dent.

Different forms of the word

Noun: hardness.

Adjective: hard.

Adverb: hardly.

Verb: harden.

Etymology

The word "hardness" comes from the Old English word "heard", which means "strong, firm, or difficult to break". The suffix "-ness" is used to form nouns that denote a quality or state.

Question

Why might it be useful to test the hardness of a material?