Word
neal
Phoneticsneal
/ˈniɫ/
Definition
v. to heat metal or glass and then let it cool slowly to make it stronger or less likely to break.
v. to subject a material, such as glass or metal, to a process of heating and slow cooling in order to toughen it and reduce brittleness.
Examples
“The blacksmith had to neal the blade carefully so it would not snap during use.”
“In the traditional workshop, the artisan would neal the glass vessels overnight to ensure the structural integrity of the finished product.”
Examples
simple
“The blacksmith had to neal the blade carefully so it would not snap during use.”
complex
“In the traditional workshop, the artisan would neal the glass vessels overnight to ensure the structural integrity of the finished product.”
Usage
Usually transitive, requiring a material object like glass, steel, or clay.
Teaching tip
This is a rare variant of the modern term 'anneal'. In contemporary English, students will almost exclusively encounter 'Neal' as a proper name or surname rather than this verb.
Synonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/neal