Hard VS. Tough VS. Difficult

Hard' and 'tough' can often be used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings.

##Hard
Hard seems to have the connotation of being solid and firm to the touch; unyielding to pressure and impenetrable.  A Floor, Tree, or other inanimate object. Glass is hard but not tough.
e.g. The hard surface of the tile felt cool on her feet.

##Tough
Tough implies that something is durable, the opposite of delicate. Something that is rubbery
like plasticine or a tyre is tough but not hard, as 'hard' implies that something is solid and inflexible.
e.g. A tyre is made of tough material.

##Difficult
When using 'hard' or 'tough' in the context of a challenging situation such as a test or a marathon, they mean the same thing.
e.g. It is a difficult question.

Thank you

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