straighten
straight|en /str'eɪtən/ (straightens straightening straightened)
1 [VERB] V n, V n
If you straighten something, you make it tidy or put it in its proper position.
She sipped her coffee and straightened a picture on the wall.
...tidying, straightening cushions and organising magazines.
2 [VERB] V
If you are standing in a relaxed or slightly bent position and then you straighten, you make your back or body straight and upright.
The three men straightened and stood waiting.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Straighten up means the same as straighten.
He straightened up and slipped his hands in his pockets.
3 [VERB] V n, V
If you straighten something, or it straightens, it becomes straight.
Straighten both legs until they are fully extended...
The road straightened and we were on a plateau.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P
Straighten out means the same as straighten.
No one would dream of straightening out the knobbly spire at Empingham Church...
The road twisted its way up the mountain then straightened out for the last two hundred yards.straighten out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you straighten out a confused situation, you succeed in getting it organized and tidied up.
He would make an appointment with him to straighten out a couple of things...
My sister had come in with her calm common sense and straightened them out.
= sort out
2
see straighten 3straighten up
see straighten 2
1 [VERB] V n, V n
If you straighten something, you make it tidy or put it in its proper position.
She sipped her coffee and straightened a picture on the wall.
...tidying, straightening cushions and organising magazines.
2 [VERB] V
If you are standing in a relaxed or slightly bent position and then you straighten, you make your back or body straight and upright.
The three men straightened and stood waiting.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Straighten up means the same as straighten.
He straightened up and slipped his hands in his pockets.
3 [VERB] V n, V
If you straighten something, or it straightens, it becomes straight.
Straighten both legs until they are fully extended...
The road straightened and we were on a plateau.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P
Straighten out means the same as straighten.
No one would dream of straightening out the knobbly spire at Empingham Church...
The road twisted its way up the mountain then straightened out for the last two hundred yards.straighten out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you straighten out a confused situation, you succeed in getting it organized and tidied up.
He would make an appointment with him to straighten out a couple of things...
My sister had come in with her calm common sense and straightened them out.
= sort out
2
see straighten 3straighten up
see straighten 2