Also means
to toughen
Usage Note
Durcir is a regular -ir verb following the finir pattern. It can be transitive (le froid durcit le sol, the cold hardens the ground) or reflexive (la situation se durcit, the situation is hardening). In politics and negotiation, durcir sa position means 'to take a harder line'. The related noun durcissement ('hardening, toughening') appears frequently in news contexts.
Examples
"Le béton durcit en quelques heures."
Natural Translation
The concrete hardens in a few hours.

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