Annealed describes a material that has been heated and then cooled slowly to soften it, relieve internal stresses, and improve ductility. In metallurgy and glassmaking, annealing modifies the microstructure to enhance workability and durability. The term also appears metaphorically to mean softened or tempered by process, experience, or time.
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"The steel was annealed to remove hardness and improve machinability."
"After annealing, the glass cooled gradually to prevent crazing and cracking."
"The alloy needed annealing to relieve residual stresses from casting."
"Her rough edges were annealed by years of patient practice and learning."
Anneal derives from the Old French alener, from en- (in, making) + alener (to make white, to burnish, to make smooth), with roots in Latin alumen ‘alum’ and the sense of making metal softer by controlled heating. The contemporary meaning—‘to heat and then cool slowly to relieve stress’—emerged in 17th–18th century scientific discourse as metallurgical processes standardized in steel and glass manufacturing. Early usage involved describing controlled heating cycles to alter physical properties, especially hardness and ductility. Over time, annealing broadened to describe any process of gradual, deliberate tempering, including figurative senses like emotions or opinions being tempered by experience. The process gained prominence in technical manuals and textbooks from the 1800s onward as industrial metallurgy evolved, with annealing cycles documented for steel, copper, aluminum, and glass to optimize machinability, resilience, and structural integrity.
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Words that rhyme with "annealed"
-ned sounds
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Pronounce it as /ˈæn.iˌeld/ (US) or /ˈæn.juːld/ (UK). The primary stress sits on the first syllable: AN-nealed. The second syllable often blends with a light /j/ sound in careful speech: /ˈæn.juːld/ for some speakers. Mouth position: start with an open front lax vowel in the first syllable, then a voiced alveolar ridge tap might occur in rapid speech, but clearly pronounce the /æ/ and the /l/ in the final syllable. For listening reference, think of “annihilated” reduced to /ˈæniˌeɪld/ in quick speech, but keep /æ/ then /ld/ clearly heard.
Two common errors: (1) Dropping the ‘lj’ sound into the second syllable, producing /ˈæniːld/ instead of /ˈæn.iˌeld/. (2) Misplacing the stress, saying /ˈæniˈæld/ or blending the second syllable so the /n/ or /l/ isn’t distinct. Correction: clearly separate /æn/ and /i/ with a light vowel and maintain the /-eld/ or /-ald/ ending; keep the second syllable lightly syllabic, and avoid turning the final into /d/ without /l/. Practice: /ˈæn.i.əld/ or /ˈæn.juːld/ depending on accent, ensuring /æ/ before /n/ and a crisp /ld/ finale.
In US English, you’ll likely hear /ˈæn.iˌeɪld/ or /ˈæn.əl.d/ with a reduced middle syllable in faster speech. UK speakers may prefer /ˈæn.juːld/ or /ˈæn.iːld/, with a slightly smoother /j/ onset in the second syllable. Australian pronunciation tends to blend the middle vowels more and may show /ˈæ.nəlˌd/ with a softer /l/ and less pronounced /j/ in rapid speech. Across all, the final /ld/ is typically a light, voiced stop before the lateral /l/. IPA cues: US /ˈæn.iˌeɪld/; UK /ˈæn.juːld/; AU /ˈæ.njəld/ (varies).
The difficulty lies in managing a three-syllable sequence with a light, clustered final: /æ-n-i-ald/. The middle vowel can reduce (schwa/ə) or shift to a glide (·j·) depending on pace, and the final /ld/ cluster can blur when spoken quickly. Additionally, first-stress on the first syllable together with the subtle /j/ onset in some accents challenges precise articulation. Focus on keeping /æ/ distinct, the /i/ or /ju/ in the middle, and a crisp /ld/ finish with controlled voicing.
Annealed has no silent letters, but the second syllable often links to a light /j/ onset in many speakers, producing /ˈæn.juːld/ in careful speech. The primary stress remains on the first syllable, with a secondary, weaker pitch on the middle vowel in slowly spoken form. The rhythm can feel like a three-beat unit: AN-NE-ALD, but careful speech should realize the middle as a distinct vowel or glide rather than a silent element.
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