annealing

/əˈnilɪŋ/
noun
  1. The process of heating and then slowly cooling metal, glass, or other materials to remove internal stresses and make them less brittle.
    • Proper annealing prevents cracks from forming in the steel during machining.
    • Annealing is an essential step in making durable glassware.
    • The blacksmith explained how annealing softens the metal for easier shaping.
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Relating to or used in the process of annealing.
    • The annealing cycle includes a slow cooling phase to avoid thermal shock.
    • They followed the annealing schedule recommended by the materials engineer.
    • The annealing furnace must maintain a steady temperature for several hours.
What does "annealing" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean