# annealing

/əˈniɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐnˈiːlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/annealing
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

heating metal or glass to a high temperature and then cooling it slowly to make it softer and less likely to break.

For teachers: controlled heating of a metal, glass, or other material followed by slow cooling to relieve internal stresses and reduce brittleness.

## Examples

- Annealing makes the metal softer and easier to shape.
- The factory uses annealing to soften steel parts before they are bent into shape.
- After annealing the glass overnight, the craftsmen found it far less likely to crack during cutting.

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