Laevigate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To smooth or polish a surface by rubbing it with a fine abrasive material
2. The process of refining or making an object smoother through gentle grinding or abrasion
3. To reduce roughness or unevenness on a surface by friction or rubbing with a material that grinds away imperfections

Etymology: "Laevigate" is a nonstandard spelling of "levigate," which entered English from Latin "lēvigātus," the past participle of "lēvigō," meaning "to smoothen." That Latin verb is built from "lēvis," "smooth," with the suffix "-ate" added to form a verb. The same Latin root gives English its word "lever" through a different path, and it is easy to see the shared idea of making something even and free of bumps. The word's most distinctive use comes from pharmacy and chemistry, where "levigate" describes grinding a solid to an extremely fine powder, often by mixing it with liquid and working it on a stone or slab until no gritty particles remain. In that sense the grinding itself is the point, reducing a substance to a smooth, uniform consistency.

Synonyms: smooth, polish, grind

Antonyms: roughen, coarsen