Anneal
Pronunciation: /əˈniːl/
Anneal (verb)
- Heat metal and cool it slowly to make it stronger or softer.
- Heat glass and cool it slowly to remove stress and make it stronger.
- Allow DNA strands to join together after being separated by heat.
Examples
- The blacksmith anneals the metal to make it more workable.
- Annealing the steel improves its ductility.
Common collocations: anneal metal, heat and anneal, anneal glass, strengthen by annealing, anneal DNA