Tag: level

Welcome to our list of smooth things! “Smooth” tends to be used in a couple of different contexts – physically smooth objects and people who are “smooth” in social situations. For this list, we’re going to focus on things with a smooth texture, starting with a gallery and moving on to a more detailed list with descriptions and definitions. Here’s our list of things that are smooth:

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Here’s a longer and more detailed list of smooth things, including descriptions:

• Mirror: Mirrors are generally flat objects with a reflective surface. If they weren’t flat or smooth, we wouldn’t be able to see refllections in them as easily.
  
• Whiteboard: Whiteboards are a re-usable writing surface, where marks can be easily erased and written again.
  
• Glass: This is a transparent solid commonly used to make tableware and other transparent objects (like windows).
  
• Metal: When cut or polished, this is a material with a silky-smooth surface.
  
• Baking sheet: This is basically a sheet of waxed paper, commonly used for wrapping food while it’s being heated.
  
• Baking tray: These are made of coated metals and are designed to be easy to clean (so having a smooth texture helps).
  
• Polished wood: When wood is polished, it scrapes away all of the small bumps, knots and splinters in the wood, turning it into a uniform surface.
  
• Marble: Marble is a type of dense rock used for sculpture and building
  
• Porcelain: Also known as china, this is a type of clay that known for it’s toughness, strength and translucency.
  
• Glaze: Glaze is a glossy coating used in different fields (art, cooking, metallurgy). Since the glaze in pottery dries down and doesn’t stay sticky (unlike the glazes used in cooking and baking), we’d say that poterry glaze is the smoothest.
  
• Ceramic: This is a categorical word for pieces of pottery or earthenware.
  
• Enamel: This is a type of paint that’s known for it durability, strength and shine. Since it’s so tough, it tends to be used as a protective and decorative layer.
  
• Gemstones: Gems can be uncut, faceted (cut) or tumbled (polished), and in all finishes will have a smooth surface.
  
• Plastic spoon: These are hard and non-porous for easy cleaning and use.
  
• Hard candy: The texture of these means that we don’t scratch the soft insides of our mouths when we eat these.
  
• Playground slide: Since these are intended for people to slide down, they need to have as smooth and frictionless a surface as possible so people don’t injure themselves during use.
  
• Onion skin: Onions have many layers, and the outermost layer is dry and shiny.
  
• Teeth: Teeth are coated in enamel, which acts as a hard, protective layer.
  
• Resin: Resin is a plant secretion that’s viscous and has varying degrees of transparency. It dries to a shiny, hard finish, so is used in decorative purposes like jewelry and as a protective coating for art pieces.
  
• Plastic wrap: This is a very thin, flexible and mildly stretchy piece of plastic used for wrapping food to preserve freshness.
  
• Plate: These are flat, generally round, and used to serve solid foods.
  
• Glasses: These are made with coated and treated plastic. Since we need to see through these, they need to have a uniform surface rather than a bumpy or textured one.
  
• Eraser: These are a smooth object with a rubbery consistency. Erasers for pencil are softer and smoother, while those intended to erase ink are harder and more abrasive.
  
• Bamboo: Bamboo is a strong, fast-growing evergreen plant which is cylincrical and hollow.
  
• Piano: Pianos are generally covered with enamel paint, giving them a glossy exterior. Their keys are coated with shiny plastic.
  
• Lenses: Lenses are intended for us to look through, and therefore has a smooth surface to help us see through them. Examples of lenses are camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars, and glasses.
  
• Bowl: These are designed to be easy to clean and non-food absorbent, which is where their smooth surface comes in handy.
  
• Phone screen: Since we almost always interact with our phones through the screen, it’s important that phone screens are easy to swipe around on and non-abrasive.
  
• Mug: Unlike cups, mugs are designed for hot drinks – they’re thicker and have a handle, which makes them safer to use.
  
• Cup: Cups are used for cold drinks, and are usually tall and cylindrical.
  
• Clay: Unless it is pressed with a specifically rough or abrasive texture, clay (both pliable and dried) will have a uniform, even surface.
  
• Cutlery: Cutlery is generally made of polished, non-porous materials (like plastic or metal) so that foods aren’t absorbed and they’re easy to clean.
  
• Brass instruments: This is a category of instruments that encompasses saxophones, trombones, trumpets and cornetts (and some others).
  
• Christmas bauble: These are round ornaments that are commonly made of glass or painted plastic.
  
• Bowling ball: Since bowling balls are made to roll along the floor, they need to have a smooth surface. They’re made to be large and heavy since their purpose is to knock bowling pins over.
  
• Silk: This is a fabric with a very smooth weave. While traditionally made from silkworms (a process which usually involves boiling the silkworms alive), cruelty-free alternatives (like satin) are now available, and vegan silks can now be made from plants like oranges and bamboo.
  
• Satin: Satin is a fabric with a glossy surface. It’s commonly used as a cheaper and cruelty-free alternative to silk.
  
• Hair: Hair is a filament made from protein. Healthy hair has a smooth, glossy texture.
  
• Light bulb: Light bulbs are a transparent bulbous shape made from glass.
  
• Marbles: These are small glass balls used as a toy to play games.
  
• Drum: Modern drum kits are usually made of smooth materials like metal, resin, plastic and enamel. This gives them a polished, shiny appearance and helps with quick hits like drum rolls.
  
• M&M’s: M&M’s are basically the same as Smarties – a small round chocolate in a colourful candy shell, but manufactured by a different company (Mars).
  
• Smarties: Smarties are small, round, colourful chocolates with a smooth sugar shell. Smarties are also manufactured by Nestle, which is a very controversial and hated company.
  
• Flower petals: Petals are actually modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They’re so soft and smooth that they’ve become a descriptor for softness (“petal-soft”.)
  
• Peanut Butter: Peanut butter comes in a few different textures, so we’re referring to the variety without chunks of peanut in it. The oils in peanuts give peanut butter a very creamy texture.
  
• Paper: While paper can come in many weights and textures, the most commonly used paper needs to be smooth to make writing, drawing, and other fun things (like origami!) easier.
  
• Avocado seed: These are large, very round, with a smooth, glossy surface and plenty of antioxidants (although it’s very uncommon for people to eat them).
  
• Frisbee: Frisbees are discs (usually made of plastic) used in recreational games and sports. The smooth surface of frisbees help them fly through the air.
  
• Window: Windows are made from either plastic or glass and tend to be smooth to help us see through them.
  
• Tomato: Tomatoes are a round, plump fruit with taut red skin.
  
• Apple: Apples are a small, round fruit with shiny skin.
  
• Ice cream: This is a frozen dessert with a soft, uniform feel. While traditionally and usually made with cow’s milk, there are now plenty of cruelty-free versions available (made with almond, soy and coconut mylks, or with avocado or banana).
  
• Caramel: Caramel is a blend of melted butter and sugar, heated and stirred until it reaches a velvety consistency.
  
• Laptop: While laptops can have bumps and varying textures on them, it’s very common for the shell of the lid to have a smooth texture.
  
• Sink: Sinks tend to be made from ceramic or porcelain and are smooth to help with easy cleaning and maintenance.
  
• Nail polish: This is a lacquer used to decorate and protect our fingernails and toenails.
  
• Cooking pot: These are generally made of metal (and some types are coated with enamel). Their polished, non-porous surfaces help with smoother stirring and easier cleaning.
  
• Candle: Candles are made of wax and tend to be cylindrical in shape.
  
• Soap: Although soap can be formed into any shape, the soap itself is smooth and becomes even smoother as it wears away with use. Some soaps however are intended for exfoliation and have a bumpier texture.
  
• Wax: There are different types of wax (soy, paraffin, beeswax) that range from soft to hard and are used for varying purposes (for example, as a protective coating for artwork or for candles).
  
• Pebbles: Some rocks and pebbles are purposely polished and ground down to have a smooth surface, and some have been worn smooth by the sea.
  
• Chocolate: Chocolate has a reputation for having a creamy and silky mouthfeel, and some varities of chocolate have a glossy surface as well.
  
• Maltesers: These are round, bite-sized chocolates with a malt centre and a glossy finish.
  
• Honey: Honey is sticky and viscous with a fluid, unbroken texture.
  
• Fingernail: Fingernails are made of protein, and may have slight ridges that run vertically down the nail. Healthy nails will generally have a shiny, lustrous appearance.
  
• Egg: While eggs can have some bumps and dimples on them, the overall texture feels smooth to our fingers.
• Tile: Tiles are used for building and decoration. They’re thin, flat, and usually square or rectangular. Since they’re commonly used for flooring, they’re usually very smooth for comfort and easy cleaning.
  
• Margarine: Margarine is a plant-based version of butter with a very soft and creamy texture. The smoothness of margarine helps in keeping the bread undamaged when you spread it on.
  
• Pancake: Pancakes without fruit or other additives in them have a very plain and uniform surface.
  
• Fondant: This is a type of icing used to decorate cakes and pastries. It has the consistency of stiff clay, and is velvety to the touch.
  
• Globe: A globe is a 3D model of Earth.
  
• Lipstick: This is a cosmetic meant to give our lips a particular colour and finish. Since it’s formulated to go on our skin and stay there, it’s important that it has a comfortable texture.
  
• Balloon: Balloons are flexible, inflatable bags that can be in different shapes, colours and sizes.
  
• Foil: Foil is a very thin sheet of metal. We most commonly use it to wrap and insulate foods.
  
• Needles: Needles can be made of plastic, wood and metal, and need to have an even surface since they need to pass smoothly through fabrics and paper without tearing or destroying them.
  
• Cardboard: Finished carboard is generally used in arts and crafts endeavours, where it needs to act as a surface for decorations, drawings or writing.
  
• Dried paint: Unless it is treated or has abrasive elements (like sand, crushed minerals, or other texturisers) added to it, dried paint will have a smooth texture.

We hope this list was useful for you! While we tried to be both as varied and as thorough as possible, there are countless objects in the world and we’ve definitely missed out on some. If there’s a smooth thing that you think should have been included in this list, feel free to let us know in the comments.

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