- To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe,
or obdurate.
2 . Soften
[ v. t.]
- To make soft or more soft. - To render less hard; -- said of matter. - To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. - To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to
soften a fault. - To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. - To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less
violent, or to render of an opposite quality. - To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the
coloring of a picture. - To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as,
troops softened by luxury. - To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the
opposite; as, to soften the voice.
Meaning of 'soften' (Princeton's WordNet)
1 . soften
[ v]
Meaning (1): - lessen in force or effect
Example in sentence:
break a fall;
soften a shock
Meaning (2): - protect from impact
Example in sentence:
cushion the blow
Meaning (3): - make less severe or harsh
Example in sentence:
He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears;
mitigating circumstances
Meaning (4): - become soft or softer
Example in sentence:
The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it