definition of
stiffness

[1] #1 stiffness n. the physical property of being inflexible and hard to bend. wn

[2] #2 stiffness n. the property of moving with pain or difficulty; "he awoke with a painful stiffness in his neck". wn

[3] #3 stiffness n. firm resoluteness in purpose or opinion or action; "a charming host without any touch of stiffness or pomposity". wn

[4] #4 stiffness n. [awkwardness, clumsiness, gracelessness] the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment). wn

[5] #5 stiffness n. [severity, severeness, harshness, rigor, rigour, rigorousness, rigourousness, inclemency, hardness] excessive sternness; "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp". wn