flatten

American  

[flat-n] / ˈflæt n /

verb (used with object)

1. to make flat.

2. to knock down.

   The boxer flattened his opponent in the second round.

   Synonyms:

   floor, deck, prostrate, fell, ground

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verb (used without object)

1. to become flat.

verb phrase

1. flatten out to fly into a horizontal position, as after a dive.

2. flatten in flat.

flatten British  

/ ˈflætən /

verb

1. (sometimes foll by out) to make or become flat or flatter

2. informal (tr)

   1. to knock down or injure; prostrate

   2. to crush or subdue

      failure will flatten his self-esteem

3. Usual US word: flat.  (tr) music to lower the pitch of (a note) by one chromatic semitone

4. to manoeuvre an aircraft into horizontal flight, esp after a dive

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Other Word Forms

• flattener noun
• overflatten verb (used with object)
• unflattened adjective

Etymology

Origin of flatten

First recorded in 1620–30; flat ¹ + -en ¹

Example Sentences

He added: "I'm not coming out to get flattened out in front of my own crowd."

From BBC

Council workers then flatten the huge mounds of sand to create an inland beach, ready for the first games on Friday.

From BBC

Way-marked pistes are generally protected by pre-emptive avalanche blasting, and their snow is flattened and compacted to further reduce the risk.

From BBC

He flattened the paper against the floor, so he could see every word all at once.

From Literature

Although geopolitical tensions have pushed oil prices to around $62 a barrel, U.S. crude output is expected to flatten this year as producers preserve dwindling sweet spots for better days, before declining in 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crush
• raze
• smash
• straighten