[] if a price or number flattens or sb/sth flattens it, it stops increasing or continues to increase at a slower rate（使）停止增长，减缓增长◆Sales of its portable computers have flattened.便携式计算机的销量已停止增长。◆There has been a flattening trend in industrial production.工业生产已经出现增长减缓的趋势。 () if sb/sth flattens an organization or it flattens, the number of levels between the top and the bottom are reduced（使）扁平化◆We flattened the organization by removing several layers of management.我们通过去除多个管理层级使组织结构扁平化。◆As a business flattens, it tends to become more productive.当企业结构实现了扁平化，企业生产率通常会提高。●ˌflatten ˈout/ˈoffto stay at a steady level of development or progress after a period of sharp rises or falls（大涨或大跌后）恢复平稳◆Oil prices are now flattening out.石油价格目前趋于稳定。◆There are signs that the economy has hit bottom or flattened out.有迹象显示经济已触底或保持稳定。SYNlevel off/out