strengthening
 強化; 加固
 Strength·en v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strengthened p. pr. & vb. n. Strengthening.]
 1. To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; as, to strengthen a limb, a bridge, an army; to strengthen an obligation; to strengthen authority.
 Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, . . .
 With powerful policy strengthen themselves.   --Shak.
 2. To animate; to encourage; to fix in resolution.
    Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.   --Deut. iii. 28.
 Syn: -- To invigorate; confirm; establish; fortify; animate; encourage.
 Strength·en·ing, a. That strengthens; giving or increasing strength. -- Strength*en*ing*ly, adv.
 Strengthening plaster Med., a plaster containing iron, and supposed to have tonic effects.
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 strengthening
      adj : invigorating physically or mentally [syn: fortifying]
      n 1: becoming stronger [ant: weakening]
      2: the act of increasing the strength of something [ant: weakening]