solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced

the slate broke on the hard floor

rub the varnish down when it's hard

done with a great deal of force or strength

a hard whack

requiring a great deal of endurance or effort

airship-flying was pretty hard work

it's hard for drummers these days

she found it hard to believe that he could be involved

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated

hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult

hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go)

with a great deal of effort

they work hard at school

so as to be solid or firm

the mortar has set hard

to the fullest extent possible

put the wheel hard over to starboard

a road leading down across a foreshore