Verbs for Changing Shape and Appearance · Verbs: Manual Action

to rub the surface of something, often using a brush or a piece of cloth, to make it bright, smooth, and shiny

"Polish your shoes before the interview."

"You should polish your leather shoes before the job interview to make them look shiny and professional."

to rub a surface to make it smooth, shiny, or glossy, often using a tool or an abrasive material

"Burnish the silverware until it gleams."

"The silversmith used a special tool to burnish the surface of the metal until it reflected light like a mirror."

to rub a surface with sandpaper or another abrasive material to smooth, shape, or remove imperfections

"Sand the wood until it becomes smooth."

"You need to sand the rough edges of the wooden table before you can apply the new coat of paint."

to cover a surface, typically a road or pathway, with a hard, flat material such as asphalt, concrete, or stones

"Workers pave the new road today."

"The city plans to pave the old dirt road with asphalt next summer to make it easier for drivers to use."

to make something less tight or more flexible

"Loosen the tight screw slightly please."

"You need to loosen the lug nuts before you can jack up the car and remove the flat tire."

to increase firmness or solidity of something

"The clay will harden in the oven."

"The clay will harden after being fired in a kiln at very high temperatures for several hours."

to make something less firm or solid

"Soften the butter at room temperature."

"Soften the butter at room temperature before creaming it with sugar to achieve the perfect cookie dough consistency."

to make an object pointed or sharper

"Sharpen your pencil before the test."

"You should sharpen your kitchen knives regularly because dull blades are actually more dangerous than sharp ones."

to break a substance down into small particles

"The machine granulates plastic into small pellets."

"The sugar began to granulate as the water evaporated leaving behind small crystals on the bottom of the pan."

to reduce the density of something

"Thin the sauce with some water."

"You need to thin the paint with a little bit of water before applying it to the wall to avoid streaks."

to make something appear less clear or distinct

"Tears blur her vision completely."

"The moving car was moving so fast that its image blurred in the photograph making it impossible to see the license plate."

to cause a wrinkle or indentation on a surface

"Do not crease your new shirt."

"The new shirt creased easily during travel so he had to iron it before the important meeting."

to become twisted or knotted together in a confusing manner

"Do not tangle the electrical cords."

"The headphones became completely tangled in her pocket and it took her five minutes to untangle the messy knots."

to twist or weave together, creating a complex and interconnected structure

"Their lives intertwine in the film."

"The lives of the two main characters intertwine in unexpected ways throughout the course of the novel."

to bend or change shape, often due to pressure or exposure to heat

"Heat warps the plastic material permanently."

"The heat from the radiator caused the old wooden record to warp so badly that it would no longer play properly."

to twist or bend something out of its normal or natural shape

"His face contorted in pain."

"His face began to contort in pain as the doctor pressed on the injured area of his leg."

to make something even, flat, or straight

"Level the ground here."

"The construction crew will level the site before building the foundation."

to make a surface free from roughness

"Smooth the icing on the cake."

"Use a spatula to smooth the icing evenly over the surface of the cake for a professional looking finish."

to polish or shine a surface by rubbing it with a soft cloth or a special tool

"Buff the table until shiny."

"He used a soft cloth to buff the antique wooden table until it gleamed with a beautiful shine."

(of natural forces such as wind, water, or other environmental factors) to gradually wear away or diminish the surface of a material

"The river eroded the soft banks."

"The constant flow of the river slowly began to erode the soft rock cliffs over millions of years."

to make something no longer bent or curved

"Please straighten your tie."

"He tried to straighten the bent metal rod before discarding it."

to reduce the thickness or height of something, making it less raised or elevated in its shape or form

"Flatten the dough with a rolling pin."

"The heavy steamroller slowly moved across the fresh asphalt to flatten the road surface completely and make it smooth."

to sharpen a blade or edge using a tool specifically designed for sharpening

"I need to hone my knife."

"The experienced chef would hone his favorite blade before preparing the intricate meal."

to cause something to change into one or more crystals

"Sugar can crystallize."

"Allowing the sugar syrup to cool slowly will help it crystallize into beautiful, edible sugar shards."

to make something soft and puffy, often by shaking or arranging it for added volume

"Fluff the pillow before sleeping comfortably."

"She fluffed the pillow gently before placing it behind her back to make her seat more comfortable on the couch."

to create folds or creases on a previously smooth surface

"Age wrinkles the skin over time."

"The old man's skin began to wrinkle as he aged but he still had a very young and energetic spirit."

to crush, fold, or wrinkle something, resulting in irregular and uneven creases

"The paper began to crumple."

"He accidentally crumpled the important document in his haste to leave."

to bend something in a way that one part of it touches or covers another

"Fold the letter into an envelope."

"You need to fold the laundry immediately after it dries so that nothing gets wrinkled or messy."

to bend an object into a particular shape, such as wire, cloth, etc.

"Twist the cap to open the bottle."

"She had to twist the stubborn lid of the jar with all her strength before it finally opened."

to make something straight become curved or folded

"Do not bend the metal."

"The engineer had to carefully bend the plastic without causing it to fracture."