flattening
Removing all bumps
Flattening is the process of making something flat or flatter.
A rolling pin flattens dough.
Economic flattening levels hierarchies or reduces growth curves.
In data structures, flattening converts nested elements into a single level: flattening a nested list.
The word often implies reduction or compression—eliminating variation, dimension, or complexity.
Overwhelming in intensity
- squashingCrushing by pressure
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- squeezingPressing inward firmly
- compactingPressing material denser
mashing · tamping · steamrolling · ironing · rolling · smoothing · pancaking · stamping
Making flat or equal
- standardizingEstablishing uniform criteria
- homogenizingMaking consistent throughout
- normalizingMaking conform to norms
- balancingAchieving equal distribution
evening · smoothing · uniformity · neutralizing · regression · distribution · hierarchy · gradient
Friction-smoothing a surface
- polishingSmoothing by friction
- buffingFriction-based shine work
- planingRemoving surface material
- grindingMolar action sometimes
finishing · surface · wrinkle · crease · fabric · ironing · pressing · steam
Bladed vehicle pushing earth
- graderOne who assigns scores
- excavatorMachine that digs earth
- rollerRotating cylindrical tool
- earthmoverHeavy digging machinery
terracing · landscaping · earthwork · planing · scarifying · backfill · compaction · foundation
Turning over repeatedly
- hammeringStriking repeatedly with force
- forgingShaping heated metal; faking documents
- sheetFlat rectangular material
- plateFlat dish for food
ingot · mill · anvil · die · press · stamping · drawing · annealing
Hole from penetration
- collapseSudden structural failure
- leakEscape through a breach
- depressurizeRemove internal pressure
- decompressRelease stored pressure
sag · shrivel · wilt · empty · deflation · burst · pop · tire
Making less or smaller
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- condensingReducing in volume
- abstractingCondensing to essentials
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
structure · organization · complexity · nested · layers · dimensions · data · array
crushing
Overwhelming in intensity
compacting · mashing · tamping · steamrolling · ironing · rolling · smoothing · pancaking · stamping · pounding
leveling
Making flat or equal
- standardizingEstablishing uniform criteria
- homogenizingMaking consistent throughout
- normalizingMaking conform to norms
balancing · evening · smoothing · uniformity · neutralizing · regression · distribution · hierarchy · gradient · curve
sanding
Friction-smoothing a surface
grinding · finishing · surface · wrinkle · crease · fabric · ironing · pressing · steam · mangle
bulldozer
Bladed vehicle pushing earth
earthmover · terracing · landscaping · earthwork · planing · scarifying · backfill · compaction · foundation · groundwork
rolling
Turning over repeatedly
- hammeringStriking repeatedly with force
- forgingShaping heated metal; faking documents
- sheetFlat rectangular material
plate · ingot · mill · anvil · die · press · stamping · drawing · annealing · gauge
puncture
Hole from penetration
- collapseSudden structural failure
- leakEscape through a breach
- depressurizeRemove internal pressure
decompress · sag · shrivel · wilt · empty · deflation · burst · pop · tire · balloon
reducing
Making less or smaller
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- condensingReducing in volume
- abstractingCondensing to essentials
hierarchy · structure · organization · complexity · nested · layers · dimensions · data · array · JSON
- deformingbending, twisting, warping, curving, folding
- shapingmolding, folding, sculpting, forming, curving
- steamrollingbulldozing, crushing, trampling, plowing, overpowering
- compressioncompress, compression, compressor, compressing, compact
- deformationbending, buckling, cracking, crushing, elongation
- pandemiclockdowns, COVID-19, outbreak, epidemic, COVID
flatteninginflating
Causing to expand
raising · puffing up · rounding · bulging · swelling
flatteningbuilding
Enclosed roofed structure
erecting · constructing · raising · production · assembling
- flattening outMaking uniformly level
- flattening the curveSpreading outbreak's burden temporally
- curve flatteningReducing maximum by distributing load
flat, flatten, flatter, flattery, flatness, flattened, flatly, flatware, flattens