flatten /ˈflætən/ TEM4 ( flattening, flattened, flattens )

• 1. 

  V-T/V-I If you flatten something or if it flattens, it becomes flat or flatter. 使变平; 变平

  例：

  He carefully flattened the wrappers and put them between the leaves of his book.

  他小心翼翼地弄平包装纸，把它们夹在书页里。

  例：

  The dog's ears flattened slightly as Cook spoke his name.

  当库克叫狗的名字时，狗的耳朵稍稍耷拉了下来。

• 2. 

  PHRASAL VERB Flatten out means the same as . 使变平; 变平

  例：

  The hills flattened out just south of the mountain.

  在山的南边丘陵就变得平坦起来。

• 3. 

  V-T To flatten something such as a building, town, or plant means to destroy it by knocking it down or crushing it. 夷平 (建筑物、城镇或植物)

  例：

  ...explosives capable of flattening a five-storey building.

  …足以把一幢5层建筑夷为平地的炸药。

  例：

  ...bombing raids flattened much of the area.

  …空袭把该地区的许多地方夷为平地。

• 4. 

  V-T If you flatten yourself against something, you press yourself flat against it, for example, to avoid getting in the way or being seen. 使自己贴着 (以免挡道或被看见)

  例：

  He flattened himself against a brick wall as I passed.

  我经过的时候，他紧贴着一堵砖墙站着。

• 5. 

  V-T If you flatten someone, you make them fall over by hitting them violently. 击倒

  例：

  "I've never seen a woman flatten someone like that," said a crew member. "She knocked him out cold."

  “我从没见过一个女人像那样把人击倒”，一名机组人员说，“她把他打昏过去了。”