straighten

American  

[streyt-n] / ˈstreɪt n /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become straight in direction, form, position, character, conduct, condition, etc. (often followed by up orout ).

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straighten British  

/ ˈstreɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become straight

2. (tr) to make neat or tidy

   straighten your desk

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Other Word Forms

• overstraighten verb
• prestraighten verb (used with object)
• restraighten verb
• straightener noun
• unstraightened adjective
• well-straightened adjective

Etymology

Origin of straighten

First recorded in 1535–45; straight + -en ¹

Example Sentences

He straightens it out and enhances its faded colour with careful strokes of a pencil.

From BBC

Black straightens out his forces and the game appears heading for yet another draw and the dreaded blitz finale, especially with both players running short on time.

From Washington Times

Now scientists have finally straightened out how these legless escape artists use only a simple collection of muscles and neurons to seamlessly slither out of tight tangles.

From Scientific American

"All those things together make the knee know where it is in space and how fast it's bending or straightening," John says.

From BBC

Artificially straightened rivers flow faster and pick up more sediment.

From BBC

Related Words

• rectify
• uncoil