Smoothener

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A substance or tool used to make a surface or texture even and free of roughness
2. Something applied or used to reduce bumps or irregularities to create a polished or soft finish
3. An element that improves the smoothness of a material or surface by eliminating unevenness

Etymology: "Smoothener" is a plain English formation: the verb "smoothen" (to make smooth, from "smooth" with the suffix "-en," meaning to make or become) plus the agent suffix "-er," which names a thing that performs an action. Its literal sense is simply something that smooths. The verb "smoothen" has been in use since the 1500s, and "smoothener" follows the same pattern, so it is best understood as a straightforward derivation rather than a word with a dramatic history. The word's sense has stayed close to its roots. Where "smooth" describes a surface free of bumps, "smoothener" names an agent that removes those bumps, whether a chemical additive, a polishing compound, or a tool. Because the word is built transparently from familiar parts, readers can usually work out its meaning from its form alone.

Synonyms: emollient, softener