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Webster 1913 Edition


Straighten

Straight′en

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Straighted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Straighting
.]
1.
To make straight; to reduce from a crooked to a straight form.
2.
To make right or correct; to reduce to order;
as, to
straighten
one’s affairs; to
straighten
an account
.
To straighten one's face
,
to cease laughing or smiling, etc., and compose one's features.

Straight′en

,
Verb.
T.
A variant of
Straiten
.
[Obs. or R.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Straighten

STRAIGHTEN

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To make straight; to reduce from a crooked to a straight form.
2.
To make narrow, tense or close; to tighten.
3.
To reduce to difficulties or distress.

Definition 2024


straighten

straighten

English

Verb

straighten (third-person singular simple present straightens, present participle straightening, simple past and past participle straightened)

  1. (transitive) To cause to become straight.
  2. (intransitive) To become straight.
  3. (transitive) To put in order; to sort; to tidy up.
    to straighten one's affairs, or an account
    • 2011 September 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania”, in BBC Sport:
      Tuilagi and Ashton started in lively fashion, centre Tuilagi doing what he does best, straightening and bursting into the line, and Ashton always looking to leave his wing and get involved in the action.
  4. (transitive) To clarify a situation or concept to (an audience).
  5. (transitive, slang) To bribe or corrupt.
  6. (intransitive) To stand up, especially from a sitting position.

Derived terms

Translations

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