flatten

Word family

1 (also flatten out) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]FLAT to make something flat or flatter, or to become flat or flatter （使）变平

Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough.

用擀面杖把面团擀平。

The land flattened out as we neared the coast.

我们接近海岸时，地势变平坦了。

2 [transitiveT]DESTROY to destroy a building or town by knocking it down, bombing it etc 把…夷为平地；炸平 SYN level

Hundreds of homes were flattened by the tornado.

数百户住宅被龙卷风夷为平地。

► see thesaurus at destroy

3 flatten yourself against something PRESSto press your body against something 把身体紧贴在某物上

I flattened myself against the wall.

我全身紧贴在墙上。

Examples from the Corpus

flatten yourself against something• Quickly they moved out of sight, flattening themselves against the corridor walls to either side of the short passage.• She flattened herself against the end terrace wall and looked back.• Brennan and Douglas flattened themselves against the front of the trench as it went over.• She'd flattened herself against the outside wall like some one in a spy movie.• I flattened myself against the wall.• I flattened myself against the wall.• As the train began slowing down for North Chittendon, I flattened myself against the window.

4 [transitiveT] informalBEAT/DEFEAT to defeat someone completely and easily in a game, argument etc 〔在比赛、争论中轻易彻底地〕击败，击倒，驳倒

We flattened them 6–0.

我们以6比0彻底击败了他们。

5. [transitiveT] informalHIT to hit someone very hard 猛打，狠揍〔某人〕

Examples from the Corpus

flatten• Nearly every building within twenty-five kilometers of ground zero is flattened.• More than 10,000 houses were flattened by the quake.• I am now about as tall as a flattened cricket.• Place the balls of cookie dough on a baking sheet, and flatten each one with your hand.• She said that the crash-helmet would flatten her hair-do.• Her little car was completely flattened in the accident.• Roll the dough into a ball and then flatten it with a rolling pin.• Lara more or less flattens it.• He fell against me so heavily I thought he was going to flatten me.• Sleep had flattened one side of her Afro and a curl had broken free above her forehead.• The hills flatten out near the coast.• Flatten the cardboard boxes and stack them in the corner.• The wind and rain had flattened the crops.• The Packers flattened the Saints 42-6.• Shut up or I'll flatten you!

flat·ten verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus