straighten

straight|en [ˈstreıtn] v

1.) [I and T] also straighten out

to become straight, or to make something straight

▪ Can you straighten your leg?

2.) [i]also straighten up

to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down

3.) [T] also straighten up

to make something tidy

▪ Mum told me to straighten my room.

straighten out phr v

1.) straighten sth<=>out

to deal with problems or a confused situation and make it better, especially by organizing things

= ↑sort out

▪ There are several financial problems that need to be straightened out quickly.

2.) to become straight, or to make something straight

▪ The path soon bends to the right then straightens out.

straighten sth<=>out

▪ She straightened out her legs.

3.) to improve your bad behaviour or deal with personal problems, or to help someone do this

▪ He straightened out when he joined the army.

straighten sb<=>out

▪ Her parents changed her school, hoping it would straighten her out.

straighten up phr v

1.) to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down

▪ He remained bent over for several seconds before slowly straightening up.

2.) straighten sth<=>up

to make something tidy

3.) AmE to begin to behave well after behaving badly

▪ You'd better straighten up, young lady!