What is the Latin word for tighten?

The usual Latin words for “tighten” are stringō, astringō, tendō; also contendō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“tighten” in Latin

stringōto draw tight together, to tie together; to pull or strip off, cut off, pluck off, clip off, prune; to unsheath astringōto draw close, bind or tie together; tighten, contract; to check, repress, restrain; to put under obligation, oblige, ne tendōto stretch, stretch out, distend, extend; to direct oneself or one's course; to aim, strive, go, travel, march, tend, be contendōto hurry; to stretch, draw tight, make taut, strain; to place together in comparison, compare, contrast

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

tighten

stringere: astringere: tendere: contendere. [SYN. in TIGHT.] To tighten the reins, frenos inhibere: habenas adducere.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for tighten?: The usual Latin words for “tighten” are stringō, astringō, tendō; also contendō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.