 |
| |||||||||
soft‧en
[intransitive and transitive]
[intransitive and transitive]1 also soften up to become less hard or rough, or make something less hard or rough [≠ harden]: 
Use moisturizer to soften your skin.Cook until the onion softens.
Use moisturizer to soften your skin.Cook until the onion softens.2 if your attitude softens, or if something softens it, it becomes less strict and more sympathetic [≠ harden]: The government has softened its stance on public spending.
The government has softened its stance on public spending.3 to make the effect of something seem less unpleasant or severe, or to become less unpleasant or severe
4 if your expression or voice softens, or if something softens it, you look or sound kinder and more gentle [≠ harden]: His voice softened as he spoke to her.
His voice softened as he spoke to her.5 to make the shape or colour of something look less severe : Climbing plants soften the outline of a fence.
Climbing plants soften the outline of a fence.soften somebody/something ↔ up
phrasal verb1 informal to be nice to someone before you ask them to do something, so that they will agree to help you : She was just softening me up.
She was just softening me up.2PM to make an enemy weaker so that they are easier to attack : Use artillery to soften up the enemy forces.
Use artillery to soften up the enemy forces.3 to make something less hard or rough
