(adj) incapable of or resistant to bending, Syn. stiff, Example:a rigid strip of metal; a table made of rigid plastic; a palace guardsman stiff as a poker; stiff hair; a stiff neck

rigid

(adj) incapable of compromise or flexibility, Syn. strict

rigid

(adj) designating an airship or dirigible having a form maintained by a stiff unyielding frame or structure, Ant. nonrigid

rigidify

(v) become rigid, Example:The body rigidified

rigidify

(v) make rigid and set into a conventional pattern, Syn. petrify, ossify, Example:rigidify the training schedule; ossified teaching methods; slogans petrify our thinking

rigidity

(n) the physical property of being stiff and resisting bending, Syn. rigidness

rigidly

(adv) in a rigid manner, Syn. stiffly, bolt, Example:the body was rigidly erect; he sat bolt upright

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)

Rigid

a. [ L. rigidus, fr. rigere to be stiff or numb: cf. F. rigide. Cf. Rigor. ] 1. Firm; stiff; unyielding; not pliant; not flexible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upright beams innumerable
Of rigid spears. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, not lax or indulgent; severe; inflexible; strict; as, a rigid father or master; rigid discipline; rigid criticism; a rigid sentence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The more rigid order of principles in religion and government. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Stiff; unpliant; inflexible; unyielding; strict; exact; severe; austere; stern; rigorous; unmitigated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rigidity

n. [ L. rigiditas: cf. F. rigidité. See Rigid. ] 1. The quality or state of being rigid; want of pliability; the quality of resisting change of form; the amount of resistance with which a body opposes change of form; -- opposed to flexibility, ductility, malleability, and softness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Stiffness of appearance or manner; want of ease or elegance. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Severity; rigor. [ Obs. orR. ] Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Stiffness; rigidness; inflexibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rigidly

v. In a rigid manner; stiffly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rigidness

n. The quality or state of being rigid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rigidulous

a. [ Dim. from rigid. ] (Bot.) Somewhat rigid or stiff; as, a rigidulous bristle. [ 1913 Webster ]