| 释义 |
flat·ten
I. \ˈflatən\ verb
(flattened ; flattened ; flattening \-t(ə)niŋ\ ; flattens)
Etymology: flat (I) + -en
transitive verb
1. : to reduce to an even or more nearly even surface : make flat : level, smooth
< flatten the seams with a steam iron >
< time flattens the mountains >
2.
a. : to throw down : bring to the ground : prostrate
< the hurricane flattened the forest >
b. : depress, deject, dispirit
< was flattened by grief >
c. : to completely overwhelm
< the senator flattened his opposition >
as
(1) : to ruin financially
< the depression flattened many young or small businesses >
(2) slang : to knock out
< the boxer was flattened in the seventh round >
sometimes : to defeat decisively in any contest
(3) : to kill or destroy by or as if by crushing
< the car flattened the farmer's hen >
(4) : to make (as oneself) helplessly drunk
3. archaic : to make vapid or insipid
4.
a. : to make (as paint) lusterless
b. : to cover (a surface) with a priming coat or a coat of flat paint
5. Britain : flat 4
6. : to adjust (a sail) by hauling in the aftermost clew to help turn a sailboat — often used with in
intransitive verb
1. : to become flat or flatter: as
a. : to become dull, savorless, or lacking in spirit
b. : to get, move, or extend in or into a flat position or form — often used with out
< hills flattening into coastal plains >
< the ruts flattened out under the pressure of wheels >
c. : to become uniform or stabilized often at a new higher or lower level — usually used with out
< prices are expected to flatten out after the holiday buying >
< performance tended to flatten out after an initial period of improvement >
d.
(1) : to manipulate an airplane so as to bring its longitudinal axis parallel with the ground (as after a climb or a dive) — used with out
(2) of an airplane : to assume such a position — used with out
2. : to extend oneself in making an effort
< the horses flattened into their collars >
< rose refreshed and flattened to the task of grubbing roots >
II. transitive verb
: to stabilize especially at a lower level
< the economic boom will flatten interest rates > |