flatten

[ flat-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

verb (used without object)

1. to become flat.

verb phrase

1. Aeronautics. to fly into a horizontal position, as after a dive.
2. Nautical. flat ¹( def 61 ).

flatten

/ 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. tr music to lower the pitch of (a note) by one chromatic semitone Usual US wordflat
4. intrfoll byout to manoeuvre an aircraft into horizontal flight, esp after a dive

Derived Forms

• ˈflattener, noun

Other Words From

• flatten·er noun
• over·flatten verb (used with object)
• un·flattened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flatten¹

First recorded in 1620–30; flat ¹ + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Residents in the foothills above Camarillo are grappling with scenes of staggering destruction after the Mountain fire flattened scores of homes.

From Los Angeles Times

They found out Wednesday night that their house had been completely flattened by the fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents in the foothills above Camarillo are grappling with scenes of utter destruction after the Mountain fire flattened scores of homes.

From Los Angeles Times

In the town of Khodor, the Hezbollah flag is planted on the ruins of one of the many buildings that have been flattened by Israeli bombs.

From BBC

So O’Malley and his team fled the East Coast for a sparkling new facility being built in L.A., above the flattened remains of the predominantly Mexican American neighborhood known as Chavez Ravine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crush
• raze
• smash
• straighten