soften

CET-4 FREQ #15422 ★★☆☆☆

v. (使)变柔软, (使)变柔和

发音

UK /ˈsɒfən/
其它
US /ˈsɔf(t)ən/
US /ˈsɑf(t)ən/
CA /ˈsɑf(t)ən/
CA /ˈsɒfən/
US /ˈsɒfən/
AU /ˈsɔfən/
NZ /ˈsɒfən/
NZ /ˈsɔ̟fən/

词形变化

softened softenest softeneth softening softens 三单 softens softening 现在分词 softened 过去式 softened 过去分词

释义与例句

v.
  1. 1.

    To make something soft or softer.

    软化

    及物

    Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.

  2. 2.

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

    及物

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

  3. 3.

    To make less harsh.

    及物

    Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.

  4. 4.

    To become soft or softer.

    变软

    不及物

    The butter softened as it warmed up.

  5. 5.

    To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.

    及物/不及物 语言学
  6. 6.

    To palatalize.

词汇关系

动词

同义词 10

break yield damp cushion buffer weaken moderate mince relent dampen

反义词 2

sharpen harden

上位词 8

change accept consent blunt alter modify deaden go for

下位词 10

dull mute damp mellow dampen deaden deafen muffle tone down macerate

相关短语

soften up 使软化 soften someone's cough soften the ground soften up the ground soften the blow

词源

From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en.

来源：wiktionary