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anneal
[ uh-neel ]
/ əˈnil /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used with object)
to heat (glass, earthenware, metals, etc.) to remove or prevent internal stress.
to free from internal stress by heating and gradually cooling.
to toughen or temper.
Biochemistry. to recombine (nucleic acid strands) at low temperature after separating by heat.
to fuse colors onto (a vitreous or metallic surface) by heating.
noun
an act, instance, or product of annealing.
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Origin of anneal
before 1000; Middle English anelen,Old English anǣlan to kindle, equivalent to an-on + ǣlan to burn, akin to āl fire
OTHER WORDS FROM anneal
an·neal·er, nounun·an·nealed, adjectiveWords nearby anneal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use anneal in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for anneal
anneal
/ (əˈniːl) /
verb
to temper or toughen (something) by heat treatment
to subject to or undergo some physical treatment, esp heating, that removes internal stress, crystal defects, and dislocations
(tr) to toughen or strengthen (the will, determination, etc)
(often foll by out) physics to disappear or cause to disappear by a rearrangement of atomsdefects anneal out at different temperatures
noun
an act of annealing
Derived forms of anneal
annealer, nounWord Origin for anneal
Old English onǣlan, from on + ǣlan to burn, from āl fire
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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