Word
flatten
Phoneticsflat·ten, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɫætən/
UK/flˈætən/
Definition
v. to make something flat or level. In music, it means to lower a note by a half step. In programming, it means to turn a complex data structure into a simple list.
v. to make flat or level; to reduce the height or thickness of something. In a musical context, it refers to the lowering of a pitch by a semitone. In a programming context, it describes the process of converting a nested data structure into a single-level structure.
Examples
“The musician flattened the note to create a different sound.”
“The developer used a flatten function to convert the nested JSON object into a single list of values.”
“By flattening the hierarchical structure of the database, the system significantly improved query performance, though it introduced some complexity in maintaining data integrity.”
Examples
simple
“The musician flattened the note to create a different sound.”
contextual
“The developer used a flatten function to convert the nested JSON object into a single list of values.”
complex
“By flattening the hierarchical structure of the database, the system significantly improved query performance, though it introduced some complexity in maintaining data integrity.”
Real-World Examples
“The term Afrobeats is applied to all sorts of genres, flattening them into one.” Etymology
From flat + -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. flatten out
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/flatten