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

Where other shows would have flattened the tension between the men into a simplistic equation of a suitor terrified of his girlfriend’s father, the writers developed a different relationship for Reiner and Johnson.

From Salon

The explosion was witnessed by people on the ground, who described a bright fireball, and photographs later documented vast areas of flattened forest.

From Science Daily

Anonymity meant to protect actually flattens their experience.

From Salon

Use the tines of a fork to flatten and indent crisscross patterns over the tops of each cookie.

From Salon

Residents of Jamaica have described the landscape as being "flattened", and many still do not have electricity or access to water.

From BBC

Related Words

• crush
• raze
• smash
• straighten