soften

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Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈsɒfən/, enPR: sŏf′en
• (America) IPA: /ˈsɔfən/, enPR: sôf′en
• (America, cot-caught, Canada) IPA: /ˈsɑfən/, enPR: sŏf′en

Verb

soften (softens, present participle softening; past and past participle softened)

1. (transitive) To make something soft or softer.

   Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.

2. (transitive) To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).

   Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.

3. (transitive) To make less harsh

   Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.

4. (intransitive) To become soft or softer

   The butter softened as it warmed up.

Translations

• French: adoucir
• Italian: ammorbidire, addolcire, rendere malleabile
• Portuguese: amolecer
• Russian: смягча́ть
• Spanish: ablandar, suavizar

Translations

• Italian: rendere arrendevole

Translations

• Italian: rendere malleabile, addolcire, ammorbidire
• Portuguese: suavizar
• Russian: смягча́ть
• Spanish: suavizar

Translations

• Italian: ammorbidirsi
• Russian: смягча́ться
• Spanish: ablandar

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