levigate

/ˈlɛvɪɡeɪt/
verb
  1. To grind or crush something into a fine, smooth powder.
    • In the laboratory, they levigate the mineral sample for analysis.
    • To make the pigment, the artist had to levigate the colored stone into a fine dust.
    • The chemist used a mortar and pestle to levigate the dried herbs.
  2. To make something smooth, polished, or flat.
    • They levigate the metal sheet until it shines like a mirror.
    • The carpenter carefully levigated the wood before applying the varnish.
    • The sculptor used sandpaper to levigate the surface of the marble.
What does "levigate" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean