tough tough /ˈtʌf/

adjective

1. () Not given to gentleness or sentimentality  ( tough )
   not given to gentleness or sentimentality
    A tough character
   a tough character
   
2. () Very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution  ( rugged , tough )
   very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
    A rugged competitive examination
   a rugged competitive examination
    The rugged conditions of frontier life
   the rugged conditions of frontier life
    The competition was tough
   the competition was tough
    It's a tough life
   it's a tough life
    It was a tough job
   it was a tough job
   
3. () Substantially made or constructed  ( sturdy , tough )
   substantially made or constructed
    Sturdy steel shelves
   sturdy steel shelves
    Sturdy canvas
   sturdy canvas
    A tough all-weather fabric
   a tough all-weather fabric
    Some plastics are as tough as metal
   some plastics are as tough as metal
   
4. () Physically toughened  ( toughened , tough )
   physically toughened
    The tough bottoms of his feet
   the tough bottoms of his feet
   
5. () Feeling physical discomfort or pain ('tough' is occasionally used colloquially for 'bad')  ( tough , bad )
   feeling physical discomfort or pain ('tough' is occasionally used colloquially for 'bad')
    My throat feels bad
   my throat feels bad
    She felt bad all over
   she felt bad all over
    He was feeling tough after a restless night
   he was feeling tough after a restless night
   
6. () Violent and lawless  ( ruffianly , tough )
   violent and lawless
    The more ruffianly element
   the more ruffianly element
    Tough street gangs
   tough street gangs
   
7. Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend, solve or believe  ( elusive , problematic , problematical , baffling , knotty , tough )
   making great mental demands; hard to comprehend, solve or believe
    A baffling problem
   a baffling problem
    I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
   I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
    A problematic situation at home
   a problematic situation at home
   
8. Unfortunate or hard to bear  ( hard , tough )
   unfortunate or hard to bear
    Had hard luck
   had hard luck
    A tough break
   a tough break
   
9. Resistant to cutting or chewing  ( tough )
   resistant to cutting or chewing
   

noun

1. A cruel and brutal fellow  ( hooligan , tough , yob , bully , roughneck , rowdy , ruffian , yobbo , yobo )
   a cruel and brutal fellow
   
2. [Informal] An aggressive and violent young criminal  ( goon [Informal] , hoodlum , strong-armer , hood [Slang] , punk [Informal, N. American] , thug , tough [Informal] , toughie [Informal] )
   an aggressive and violent young criminal
   
3. [Informal] Someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing  ( street fighter , tough [Informal] )
   someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing