glättad

Glättad is a Swedish adjective formed from the verb glätta, meaning to smooth, flatten or polish. It describes a surface or finish that has been made smooth or even through processes such as sanding, planing or polishing. The term is commonly used in contexts like construction, carpentry, manufacturing and interior design.

Etymology and usage notes: glättad comes from glätta with the standard past participle suffix -ad. As a predicative or attributive adjective, it agrees with the noun in gender and number. Examples include en glättad yta (a smooth surface, common gender), ett glättat golv (a smooth floor, neuter), glättade ytor (smooth surfaces, plural).

Contexts and examples: The word is frequently applied to physical surfaces such as concrete, wood, metal or ceramic where a finishing step has produced a sleek or even texture. It can also describe materials that have been given a uniform, polished appearance, such as glättat trä or glättad metall. In design and manufacturing, a glättad finish implies deliberate smoothing rather than natural wear.

Figurative use: Beyond literal surfaces, glättad can describe a polished or sanitized appearance or presentation, for example in media, PR or public image, where details are refined to appear seamless.

Related terms: Slät and polerad are closely related in meaning, with nuances related to smoothness and finish. Glättad emphasizes the smoothing process and resulting smoothness rather than mere rough texture.