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to smoothen

to smoothen

4.3
To make a surface flat and even by rubbing or polishing
  • verb
  • /ˈsmuːðən/
translation icon : alisar
  • Brushing the paint properly will smoothen the surface of the wall.

Examples

  • And that experience won't smoothen (tm), if people aren't communicating it.

    Blog text (2)
  • Without it, a rough surface morphology can't smoothen.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I'm taking the transition shade Taboo just to smoothen out the edges and to add that shade to the bottom as well.

  • Reaches over and smoothens the tangled, tousled hair.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • So now I'm going to go back in with my weightless powder again, and this time I'm just smoothing the edges.

  • They tended to as water tends to the pebbles it must run over, smoothing them gently.

  • Polishing of the teeth smoothens and cleans the teeth's surfaces, removing annoying stains and making the teeth more resistant to plaque.

    Blog text (27)
  • He uses a cloth to smoothen the wooden table before applying the finish.

  • Polishing the metal will smoothen any rough spots.

Synonyms

to shine
vsto smoothen
64 1.0

To make something smooth and bright by rubbing it

allows smoothing without aiming primarily for brightness
to smooth
vsto smoothen
54 1.1

To make a surface even by rubbing or pressing

allows smoothing also by polishing or by natural processes
to polish
vsto smoothen
46 1.1

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it

includes rubbing but also natural change toward smoothness
to flatten
vsto smoothen
23 2.6

Make something flat and smooth by pressing it

includes flattening but also smoothing by rubbing or polishing
to lubricate
vsto smoothen
  • Specialized
19 4.4

To make machine parts move smoothly by putting oil or grease on them

focuses on surface evenness rather than lowering friction alone
to even out
vsto smoothen
18 3.4

To make a surface, amount, or relationship level by removing differences

focuses on physical smoothing but also includes nonphysical processes
to slick
vsto smoothen
18 5.0

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or adding oil

focuses on smoothness whether or not a substance is applied
to buff
vsto smoothen
17 4.4

To polish something by rubbing until it is smooth or shiny

covers polishing but also simple smoothing without strong shine
to file
vsto smoothen
7 5.1

To rub something with a rough tool to make it smooth

is broader and allows polishing or natural smoothing too
to flatten out
vsto smoothen
5 3.4

To become flat and smooth after being uneven

also covers intentional smoothing actions, not only settling into flatness
to grind down
vsto smoothen
2 6.1

Wear a surface away slowly by rubbing, or make someone very tired

adds other methods such as polishing or gentle rubbing
to smooth down
vsto smoothen
1 3.8

To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people

is mainly physical smoothing and may not imply calming or resolving
to slick down
vsto smoothen
1 5.8

To make a surface such as hair smooth and shiny by using a product or pushing it flat

is similar but also includes smoothing by rubbing or natural action
to sleek
vsto smoothen
1 4.3

To make something smooth and shiny by brushing or pressing

can be caused by those actions or by gentle natural processes
to rub down
vsto smoothen
4.4

To make a surface smooth by moving something over it

can include rubbing but also nonabrasive smoothing processes
to sand the edge
vsto smoothen
4.9

To make a rough edge smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper

uses that and other actions, not only abrasive sanding
to slicker
vsto smoothen
5.1

To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or polishing

covers making smooth generally, not only to increase shine
to sleek down
vsto smoothen
5.8

To make hair smooth and shiny by pressing it or using a little gel

is broader and includes smoothing many surfaces beyond hair
to uncrumple
vsto smoothen
4.4

To make paper or cloth smooth again after it becomes wrinkled

is broader and includes smoothing from many causes, not only uncrumpling
to unwrinkle
vsto smoothen
3.3

To make fabric smooth by removing folds

covers removing creases but also smoothing surfaces generally

Antonyms

2 4.2

To make a surface not smooth so it feels bumpy

How Smooth

to polish
46 1.1
to smoothen
4.3
to buff
17 4.4
rub
64 1.0
to wipe
531 1.0

Surface Forms

smoothen infinitive
smoothed past
smoothed past participle
smoothing present participle
smoothens third person singular

Morphology

smoothen = smooth (transparent) = smooth + en

Productive verb formation from the adjective 'smooth' using the suffix '-en' meaning 'make or become', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Smoothen comes from the familiar word smooth plus the ending -en, which means 'to make or become'. So to smoothen something is to 'make it even' or remove rough spots.