flatten
- flatten
-
verb
(flattened; flattening)
Date: 1630
transitive verb
to make flat: as
a. to make level or smooth
b. to knock down; also to defeat decisively
c. to make dull or uninspired — often used with out
d. to make (as paint) lusterless
e. to stabilize especially at a lower level
intransitive verb
to become flat or flatter: as
a. to become dull or spiritless
b. to extend in or into a flat position or form
c. to become uniform or stabilized often at a new lower level — usually used with out
• flattener noun
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
Flatten — Flat ten (fl[a^]t t n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flattened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flattening}.] [From {Flat}, a.] 1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make flat; to level; to make plane. [1913 Webster] 2. To throw down; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flatten — UK US /ˈflætən/ verb [I or T] ► to stop increasing or stop something from increasing: »to flatten prices/profits »The economy hit a peak about a year ago and now it s flattening. ► HR to reduce the number of different levels of managers and other … Financial and business terms
flatten — [flat′ n] vt. 1. to make flat or flatter 2. Informal to knock down; make prostrate 3. to level to the ground vi. 1. to become flat or flatter 2. to become prostrate flatten out 1 … English World dictionary
Flatten — Flat ten, v. i. To become or grow flat, even, depressed, dull, vapid, spiritless, or depressed below pitch. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flatten — index depress Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
flatten — late 14c., to prostrate oneself, also to fall flat, from FLAT (Cf. flat) + EN (Cf. en) (1). Meaning to make flat is 1620s. Related: Flattened; flattening … Etymology dictionary
flatten — [v] level out abrade, beat down, compress, crush, debase, deflate, depress, even out, fell, floor, flush, grade, ground, iron out, knock down, lay, lay low, mow down, plane, plaster*, prostrate, raze, roll, smash, smooth, spread out, squash,… … New thesaurus
flatten — ► VERB 1) make or become flat or flatter. 2) informal knock down. DERIVATIVES flattener noun … English terms dictionary
flatten — [[t]flæ̱t(ə)n[/t]] flattens, flattening, flattened 1) V ERG If you flatten something or if it flattens, it becomes flat or flatter. [V n] He carefully flattened the wrappers and put them between the leaves of his book... The dog s ears flattened… … English dictionary
flatten — flat|ten [ flætn ] verb 1. ) flatten or flatten out intransitive or transitive if something flattens or you flatten it, it becomes flat or flatter: This exercise helps to flatten a flabby stomach. A longer pile carpet will flatten over time. 2. ) … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
flatten — UK [ˈflæt(ə)n] / US verb Word forms flatten : present tense I/you/we/they flatten he/she/it flattens present participle flattening past tense flattened past participle flattened 1) flatten or flatten out [intransitive/transitive] if something… … English dictionary