reinforcing

Pluralreinforcings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of reinforce.

   The crew spent the summer reinforcing the dam against seasonal flooding.

   Reinforcing positive behavior early helps children build lasting habits.

   Note

   Every meaning of the verb travels with this form, and each takes a direct object: reinforcing a dam, reinforcing a point by going over it again, reinforcing a habit through repetition. That object is what separates it from the adjective, which sits before a noun and takes none. The third meaning belongs to the language of behavior and learning. There, reinforcing a response means encouraging it by repeated stimulus.

2. 2
   adjective

   Serving to strengthen something or give it added support.

   Engineers embedded reinforcing mesh within the slab to resist cracking.

   The jacket has a reinforcing panel at the elbows for extra durability.

   Similarsupporting

   Note

   Before a noun this form works as a plain adjective: reinforcing wire, reinforcing mesh, a reinforcing panel. It is not comparable. A wire either does the strengthening job or it does not, so "more reinforcing" or "very reinforcing" has no place here. The same spelling also serves as a noun and as a verb form. To tell them apart, check whether an object follows, as it does with the participle of reinforce.

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Material or support that strengthens something or gives it added strength.

   The builders laid steel reinforcing throughout the foundation.

   Without proper reinforcing, the wall would crack under pressure.

   Similarsupport

   Note

   Construction talk often treats it as a mass noun, like steel or concrete: the reinforcing for the roof, steel reinforcing throughout the foundation. It can also be counted when separate pieces are meant, and then it takes the regular plural reinforcings. For material laid into a structure, the uncountable use is the usual choice. Keep the plural for distinct items.

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