anneal

[ uh-neel ]

verb (used with object)

1. to heat (glass, earthenware, metals, etc.) to remove or prevent internal stress.
2. to free from internal stress by heating and gradually cooling.
3. to toughen or temper.
4. Biochemistry. to recombine (nucleic acid strands) at low temperature after separating by heat.
5. to fuse colors onto (a vitreous or metallic surface) by heating.

noun

1. an act, instance, or product of annealing.

anneal

/ əˈniːl /

verb

1. to temper or toughen (something) by heat treatment
2. to subject to or undergo some physical treatment, esp heating, that removes internal stress, crystal defects, and dislocations
3. tr to toughen or strengthen (the will, determination, etc)
4. often foll by out physics to disappear or cause to disappear by a rearrangement of atoms

   defects anneal out at different temperatures

noun

1. an act of annealing

Derived Forms

• anˈnealer, noun

Other Words From

• an·nealer noun
• unan·nealed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anneal¹

before 1000; Middle English anelen, Old English anǣlan to kindle, equivalent to an- on + ǣlan to burn, akin to āl fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of anneal¹

Old English onǣlan, from on + ǣlan to burn, from āl fire

Example Sentences

As the hammering hardens the metal it is necessary to anneal it each time after going over the surface.

From Project Gutenberg

As the hammering goes on the metal becomes brittle and hard, and then it is passed though the fire to anneal or soften it.

From Project Gutenberg

Malleable or wrought iron, if subjected to pressure, becomes brittle, and it is necessary to anneal it.

From Project Gutenberg

Throw an asbestos rag over the joint, loosen one pair of the clamps slightly, and leave the joint to anneal.

From Project Gutenberg

When the colours are properly burnt in, the fire is suffered to die away, so as to anneal the glass.

From Project Gutenberg