flatten
/ˈflætən/verb
1
- make or become flat or flatter（使）变平; （使）变得更平：
with obj. Martin flattened a book out in front of him马丁在面前摊开一本书
no obj. after Kendal, the countryside begins to flatten out过了肯德尔, 乡野便开始平坦起来
as adj. flattened they were dancing on the flattened grass.他们在整平的草地上翩然起舞。
1.1
- with obj. and adverbial of place press (oneself or one's body) against a surface, typically to get away from something or someone or to let someone pass（为避开或让路而）使（自己身体）平贴：
they flattened themselves on the pavement as a bomb came whistling down.
随着一枚炸弹呼啸而下, 他们全都趴在了人行道上。
1.2
- with obj. Music lower (a note) in pitch by a semitone【乐】使（音符）降半音。
2
- with obj. raze (a building or settlement) to the ground把（楼房, 居住区）夷为平地：
the hurricane flattened thousands of homes.
飓风把成千上万的家园夷为平地。
2.1
- informal strike (someone) so as to make them fall down〈非正式〉击倒, 把（人）打趴在地：
Flynn flattened him with a single punch.
弗林一拳把他打趴在地。
2.2
- informal defeat (someone) completely, especially in a sporting contest〈非正式〉（尤指体育比赛中）彻底击败。
2.3
- figurative humiliate or depress (someone)〈喻〉羞辱, 使蒙羞; 使沮丧, 使消沉：
the controversy has flattened everybody here, including the players.
这场争论使这儿的每个人都非常沮丧, 包括队员在内。
派生词
flattener
noun短语动词
flatten out
1
- (of an increasing quantity or rate) show a less marked rise; slow down（上涨数量或速度）减缓。
2
- make an aircraft fly horizontally after a dive or climb（俯冲后）拉平飞机; （爬升后）改平飞机：
he flattened out and made a fine three-point landing.
他拉平飞机, 来了一个精确的三点落地。