smoothingn.
/ˈsmuːðɪŋ/ 1.
a. The action of the verb, in various senses; an instance of this. Also with out and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [noun] > purification or refinement
polishingc1400
mellowing1528
smoothing1577
polishment1594
refinement1611
alembication1616
lustrationc1635
purification1753
burnishing1780
smoothification1799
limation1852
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > smoothness > [noun] > making smooth
slicking1495
smoothing1577
smooth1848
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > [noun] > in order to conform > regularizing, standardizing, or normalizing
smoothing1577
regularization1816
normalization1848
standardizing1880
standardization1883
commonization1953
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 33v The Meale which the people in olde tyme dyd vse for the smoothing of their skinnes.
1664 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders (new ed.) i. sig. c8 Some of them Bear-like-whelps (by licking and smoothing) have gotten some fashionable like shape.
a1698 W. Row Suppl. in R. Blair Life (1848) (modernized text) xi. 291 After some smoothings of it, it was approven.
1738 in 6th Rep. Deputy Keeper App. ii. 120 A new sort of cast metallick Boxes for the smoothing of Linen.
1822 J. Parkinson Outl. Oryctol. 253 Every degree of resolution, from..destroying the finest striæ to the smoothing of ridges.
1885 ‘L. Malet’ Col. Enderby's Wife iii. vi She..slowly settled her mantle into its place, with sundry dainty pattings and smoothings.
1929 Jrnl. du Conseil Internat. pour l'Explor. de la Mer 4 228 The purpose of the smoothing was to eliminate minor fluctuations of the character of lunar (monthly) cycles which are known to exist in the sardine.
1933 Econometrica 1 238 (heading) Time series: their analysis by successive smoothings.
1939 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 171 81 The smoothing out of the stress distribution becomes less and less effective, and the maximum stress at the stress peaks rises.
1955 L. D. Landau in W. Pauli Niels Bohr & Devel. Physics 68 The great difficulties which arise in a physical ‘smoothing-out’ of particles, as opposed to a purely formal ‘smoothing-out’..are well known.
1970 Nature 22 Aug. 824/1 The output signal [was] digitally recorded after smoothing with a 1 s time constant electronic filter.
b. Phonetics. (See quot. 1888.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > vowel > [noun] > conversion to monophthong
monophthongization1880
smoothing1888
monophthonging1894
monophthongizing1904
1888 H. Sweet Hist. Eng. Sounds (new ed.) 22 ‘Smoothing’ or the levelling of the two elements of a diphthong under a monophthong is the result of absorption.
1894 H. Sweet Anglo-Saxon Reader (ed. 7) p. xxiv When these smoothings occur in WS and Kt texts they may..be due to Angl. scribes.
1935 Harvard Univ. Summ. Ph.D. Theses 288 Under smoothing are included all monophthongizations and monophthong-retaining effects which are due to WG (originally) velar consonants.
1977 Archivum Linguisticum 8 79 It seems most probable that S[econd] F[ronting] was a rather late change, taking place after i-umlaut had occurred although almost certainly before back mutation and smoothing.
2.
a. smoothing-iron n. a flat-iron (also figurative); an iron slicker used for smoothing leather.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for working with skins or leather > [noun] > for smoothing
sleeker1611
smoothing-iron1627
stretcher-iron1839
stretching-iron1839
slicker1852
stake1853
staking-iron1889
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing > ironing or pressing implements
pressing iron1343
cold press1552
setting-stick?1578
putter1583
putting stick1583
poking-stick1592
pooter1596
poting stick1600
poker1604
goose1606
poking-iron?1606
iron1613
smoothing-iron1627
steel1638
box iron1640
smoothing-boxa1684
press iron1695
ironing board1721
sad iron1759
ironing blanket1774
ironing table1778
flat-iron1810
sleeve-board1826
ironer1833
Italian iron1833
press-board1849
ironing machine1851
goffering-iron1861
skirt-board1861
goffer1865
trouser press1880
ironing board cover1886
trouser presser1888
electric iron1890
press cloth1918
press-pad1924
tie press1926
steam-iron1951
pressing board1969
(a)
(b)1852 C. Morfit Art of Tanning, Currying, & Leather-dressing (1853) 370 The wrinkles in the skin are flattened by means of a mallet or a smoothing iron.1627 W. Hawkins Apollo Shroving iv. iii. 63 The lace is so thicke... I know not what can foule it, vnlesse the smoothing-iron cast a rusty colour through the paper.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at Iron A flat iron, box iron, or smoothing iron.
1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. viii. 132 The smoothing-irons that hung before the fire.
1889 F. E. Gretton Memory's Harkback 275 I drew the smoothing-iron over all, by expressing as fully..as I knew how, my admiration of his glorious country.
b. smoothing-plane n. a small fine-set plane giving a very smooth finish.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > plane > [noun] > finishing plane
smoothing-plane1678
smooth-plane1875
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iv. 72 The Fore-Plain is used before the Smoothing-Plain.
1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 190 The Smoothing-plane..is a thick Plate of Polish'd-brass, about 9 Inches square, a little turn'd up, on all the 4 edges.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 110 The smoothing-plane is about seven inches in length, it has no tote or handle, and otherwise differs in shape from any of the planes yet mentioned.
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 245 The Smoothing Plane..is the last plane which is made use of in giving the utmost degree of smoothness to the surface.
1875 T. Seaton Man. Fret Cutting 83 The smoothing-plane must be set very fine, and the upper iron should come quite low down towards the edge.
1892 Daily News 26 Jan. 3/2 They are taught skilfully to use the jack-plane, the trying-plane, the smoothing plane, hand saw, tenon saw, and bow saw.
Compounds
C1. General attributive in the names of appliances, implements, etc. Used in smoothing. Also in designating devices for reducing ripple in electrical signals.
smoothing capacitor n.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > [noun] > device for reducing ripple
smoothing circuit1940
smoothing choke1941
smoothing filter1941
smoothing capacitor1959
1959 Engineering 20 Feb. 230/2 A small smoothing capacitor in the reading amplifier prevents the output from falling to zero during the transport of the wiper from one contact to the next.
smoothing choke n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > [noun] > device for reducing ripple
smoothing circuit1940
smoothing choke1941
smoothing filter1941
smoothing capacitor1959
1941 P.O. Electr. Engineers Jrnl. 34 118/1 With the development of floating battery power supply systems in telephone exchanges and repeater stations, there is a considerable demand for smoothing chokes.
smoothing circuit n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > [noun] > device for reducing ripple
smoothing circuit1940
smoothing choke1941
smoothing filter1941
smoothing capacitor1959
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 780/1 Smoothing circuit.
1975 G. J. King Audio Handbk. iv. 96 Separate smoothing and filtering circuits are used for the supplies of the preceding stages and for the preamplifier stages of the control section.
smoothing filter n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > [noun] > device for reducing ripple
smoothing circuit1940
smoothing choke1941
smoothing filter1941
smoothing capacitor1959
1941 P.O. Electr. Engineers Jrnl. 34 118/1 The cost of the complete smoothing filter may be comparable with that of the associated motor-generator set.
C2. † smoothing-leather n. Obsolete a razor-strop.
smoothing-board n. (see quot. 1688).
ΚΠ
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xx. 249/1 Four Instruments belonging to the Art of a Lanthorn maker... The second..is called a Smoothing Board.
smoothing-box n. a box-iron (now dialect).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing > ironing or pressing implements
pressing iron1343
cold press1552
setting-stick?1578
putter1583
putting stick1583
poking-stick1592
pooter1596
poting stick1600
poker1604
goose1606
poking-iron?1606
iron1613
smoothing-iron1627
steel1638
box iron1640
smoothing-boxa1684
press iron1695
ironing board1721
sad iron1759
ironing blanket1774
ironing table1778
flat-iron1810
sleeve-board1826
ironer1833
Italian iron1833
press-board1849
ironing machine1851
goffering-iron1861
skirt-board1861
goffer1865
trouser press1880
ironing board cover1886
trouser presser1888
electric iron1890
press cloth1918
press-pad1924
tie press1926
steam-iron1951
pressing board1969
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1672 (1955) III. 627 A thick piece of Yron, such as Laundresses use to put in their Smoothing boxes.
1756 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (new ed.) II. xv. 310 It will be proper to rub the smoothing-box or iron with a little wax.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > [noun] > sharpening > leather
strop1702
smoothing-leather1710
razor strop?1740
strap1759
1710 Philos. Trans. 1708–09 (Royal Soc.) 26 496 I passed the same Razor over my Strop or Smoothing-Leather.
smoothing-mill n.
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the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > making jewellery or setting with jewels > [noun] > jeweller's tools
muffler1688
polishing mill1757
spit-sticker1837
slitting-mill1850
smoothing-mill1850
gem-peg1853
jewel setter1875
needle file1875
peg1879
stake1884
sharp1903
1850 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. III. 1302 For soft stones the smoothing mill is sometimes a plain disk of willow wood or mahogany.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2227/1 Smoothing-mill, the polishing-mill of the lapidary.
smoothing-stone n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2227/2 Smoothing-stone, a substitute for a smoothing-iron, made of steatite, attached to a plate and handle of metal.
smoothing-trowel n. a kind of trowel used in plastering.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > [noun] > plasterer's tools > spreading tools
float1700
laying-trowel1700
Darby1819
Derby1823
laying-tool1825
smoothing-trowel1825
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 612 This coat is spread with a smoothing-trowel.
1873 E. Spon Workshop Receipts 1st Ser. 121/2 The setting is spread with the smoothing trowel.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
smoothingadj.
1. That smooths or makes smooth; having the effect of smoothing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > smoothness > [adjective] > making smooth
smoothing1495
smootha1596
smoothening1841
sleeking1873
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xix. xlvii. 890 Bytter thynges..bi grete drynesse..be made smothyng and softynge.
1650 T. Venner Via Recta 103 It induceth a smoothing delectation to the gullet.
1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) ii. vii. 376 It made her anxious..to be operated upon by that smoothing hand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [adjective] > of words or manners
fairOE
honeyed1435
glozed1509
fair-tongued1541
fine1568
smoothed1568
smoothinga1592
sugary1591
slicked1594
rose water1598
rose-watered1599
candied1604
soft1609
courtlya1616
smooth-faced1626
oileda1640
blandished1671
sugar1687
fair-spoken1704
smooth-tongued1761
silky1778
pill-gilded1822
blarneyfied1830
greasy1848
blarneyed1861
soothering1866
soothing-syrupy1902
a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) i. sig. B4v Princes rather trust a smoothing tongue, Then men of Art that can accept the time.
1592 Greenes Groats-worth of Witte sig. Cv He learnd likewise with smoothing words to faine.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. G2 Thy secret pleasure turnes to open shame,..Thy smoothing titles to a ragged name. View more context for this quotation
1675 T. Otway Alcibiades iii. iii. 31 Fine smoothing terms to cloak a passion in.
Derivatives
ˈsmoothingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > smoothness > [adverb] > so as to make smooth
smoothingly1843
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [adverb]
clawingly1566
fawningly1591
ambitiously1598
adulatoriously1601
sycophantically1643
sycophantly1672
smoothingly1843
sycophantishly1847
insinuatingly1860
ingratiatingly1886
1843 R. S. Surtees Handley Cross III. vii. 135 ‘You seem an honest, intelligent sort of man,’ continued Mr. Bolster, smoothingly.
1884 E. Fawcett Rutherford vi One of his white hands fluttered smoothingly about his yellow beard.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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n.1577adj.1495