Definitions for "Hinting"
In digital photography, the act or process of making careful and small adjustments in the outline-filling process of type in order to restore legibility and outline character. Hinting attempts to equalize the weights (thickness) of stems, preventing the disappearance of parts of glyphs on small-sized fonts. See also GLYPH OUTLINE FONT STEM
Guidelines added to a font to help it print and display more consistently at small sizes. Most fonts contain some form of hinting, ranging from very cursory to very thorough.
The method of instructing a scaleable font, TrueType or Adobe Type 1, to ensure that it renders correctly in vaying circumstances.