1 [+wall, roof, building] reforzar; [+back, muscle] fortalecer manufacturers should be compelled to strengthen the roof areas of coaches the joists will need strengthening to take the extra weight the builders will have to strengthen the existing joists with additional timber struts designed to strengthen the wings of aeroplanes eating foods rich in calcium may help strengthen your teeth brushing with fluoride pastes merely improves tooth enamel and does not strengthen the underlying tooth
he does exercises to strengthen his legs hace ejercicios para fortalecer las piernas
this movement stretches your spine and strengthens the muscles in your abdomen an exercise that will tone and strengthen muscles Her injury may need the insertion of a plate into the bone to strengthen the leg she underwent an operation in the summer to strengthen her shoulder muscles cycling is good exercise, it strengthens all the muscles of the body Yoga can be used to strengthen the immune system
2 [+currency, economy, bond, relationship, character] fortalecer; consolidar; [+government] consolidar; [+case, argument, law] reforzar; [+power] consolidar; afianzar; [+resolve, belief, impression] reafirmar; [+person] (morally) fortalecer any experience can teach and strengthen you this new law must be strengthened to force sex offenders to attend clinics before they are even considered for parole a Labour MP is urging the government to strengthen the laws against racial hatred these measures strengthen the protection which the law gives children from potentially damaging videos the government should start by strengthening the British economy the new constitution, which strengthens the government and enables it to balance and check the powers of parliament and president he is demanding that ombudsmen be appointed to keep a watch on the industries and strengthen consumer representation This legislation strengthens the position of trade unions We've increased the number of police and strengthened their powers we're considering buying in a new striker to strengthen the team the policies necessary to strengthen the British economy this would strengthen the pound against the mark Each act of terrorism serves only to strengthen resolve that the IRA will never win this strengthens my belief that ... every day that came and went strengthened her conviction this has merely strengthened his desire to stay on at the club he does not seem to be familiar with research which might have strengthened his own arguments They hope that the outcome of the referendum will strengthen their case for increased autonomy his speech strengthened the impression that he is the main power in the organisation every day of sunshine strengthens the feelings of optimism it will draw you closer together and it will strengthen the bond of your relationship his visit is intended \to strengthen ties between the two countries\ !! having a baby strengthened their relationship the experience helped strengthen my character
this served to strengthen opposition to the strike esto sirvió para afianzar la oposición a la huelga; her rejection only strengthened his resolve el rechazo de ella solo sirvió para hacer más firme su propósito de conquistarla
to strengthen sb's position strengthen sb's hand afianzar la posición de algn
to strengthen his position in parliament, he held talks with leaders of the Peasant Party he hoped to strengthen the position of the sciences in the leading universities to strengthen sb's hand today's vote will strengthen the minister's hand in the negotiations The agreement strengthens the hand of the Prime Minister The ruling has strengthened the hand of those who back Mr Powell's bill The size of the victory will strengthen de Klerk's negotiating hand
