Glätten

Glätten is a German verb meaning to make something smooth or flat, removing roughness or irregularities from a surface. It can also mean to cause a surface to be level, even, or free of creases. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including crafts, industry, and everyday language. Etymologically it derives from the adjective glatt (smooth) with the infinitive suffix -en.

In practical terms, glätten appears in several fields. In textiles and clothing care, it commonly refers to ironing or pressing garments to remove wrinkles and achieve a smooth finish. In woodworking and metalworking, glätten denotes smoothing a surface after shaping, using methods such as planing, sanding, filing, and polishing to achieve uniformity and meet tolerances. In manufacturing and surface engineering, glätten describes finishing steps aimed at improving flatness and smoothness of parts or components.

In data processing and statistics, glätten (or smoothing) reduces short-term fluctuations in a data series to reveal underlying trends. Techniques include moving averages, exponential smoothing, and LOESS. In social contexts, glätten can describe actions intended to de-escalate tensions or harmonize relations, such as mediation or compromises to achieve a more stable situation.

Glätten is also used in various specialized disciplines where surface quality or stability matters. The noun form Glätten refers to the act itself or to the process of smoothing. See also Glättung for related concepts in smoothing processes across disciplines.