Tugevduse

Tugevduse is a term used in Estonian-language discourse to denote the process, practice, or state of increasing strength, robustness, or intensity of a system or property. It encompasses both practical methods for making something stronger and the resulting condition after strengthening. The concept is used across disciplines to describe a targeted outcome, such as harder materials, greater psychological resilience, or more potent performance.

In engineering and materials science, tugevdus refers to strengthening processes that raise strength, hardness, or durability, for example through heat treatment, alloying, or deformation. In psychology and social sciences, it is applied metaphorically to describe building coping resources, social support, or resilience in the face of adversity. In linguistics and communication studies, related ideas appear as intensification, where modifiers increase the perceived strength of meaning, attitude, or sentiment.

Usage notes: the term is most common in Estonian contexts but appears in interdisciplinary work when discussing strengthening as a general principle. Analysts typically clarify the target property, the method used to increase it, and the intended level of strength or robustness. See also strength, reinforcement, resilience, and intensification.