hardness

/ˈhɑɹdnəs/noun
Elementary
1

The quality of being hard.

2

An instance of this quality; hardship.

3

The quantity of calcium carbonate dissolved in water, usually expressed in parts per million (ppm).

4

The resistance to scratching, cutting, indentation or abrasion of a metal or other solid material.

5

The penetrating ability of electromagnetic radiation, such as x-rays; generally, the shorter the wavelength, the harder and more penetrating the radiation.

6

The measure of resistance to damage of a facility, equipment, installation, or telecommunications infrastructure when subjected to attack.

7

A measure of how hard a material is.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing