Phrase guide

work hardening

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The repeated plastic deformation of a material, causing a permanent distortion of its crystal structure, and an increase in its strength and hardness; the resultant hardness increase itself. (It can be either desirable or undesirable depending on the aims and circumstances in a metalworking task.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: engineering, metallurgy, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • The toolpath strategies for milling inconel must account for the work hardening that the cutting tool induces.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: strain hardening

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kylmämuokkaus — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Finnish: muokkauslujittuminen — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • French: écrouissage — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • German: Kaltumformung — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • German: Kaltumformen — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Greek: ενδοτράχυνση (endotráchynsi) — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Greek: εργοσκλήρυνση (ergosklírynsi) — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Italian: incrudimento — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Portuguese: encruamento — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Russian: наклёп (nakljóp) — repeated plastic deformation of a material
  • Ukrainian: на́клеп (náklep) — repeated plastic deformation of a material