anneal
|an-neal|
/əˈniːl/
heat and cool to toughen
Etymology
'anneal' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'onǣlan' (or Middle English 'anelen'), where the root related to working or tempering metal.
'onǣlan' (Old English) changed to Middle English 'anelen' and later developed into the modern English verb 'anneal'.
Initially, it referred specifically to tempering or working metal; over time it came to denote the specific process of heating and controlled cooling (and also acquired figurative uses).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to heat (metal, glass, etc.) and then allow to cool slowly so as to remove internal stresses, reduce hardness, and improve ductility or workability.
To anneal the steel, the technician heated it and then let it cool slowly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/15 05:51