soften

soften
soften [{{t}}'sɒfən]
1 transitive verb
(a) (butter, ground, wax) ramollir; (skin, water) adoucir; (fabric, wool, leather) assouplir;
∎ a cream to soften chapped skin une crème pour adoucir les peaux gercées;
∎ soften the paste by kneading it between your fingers ramollir la pâte en la malaxant avec les doigts;
∎ centuries of erosion had softened the stone des siècles d'érosion avaient rendu la pierre tendre
(b) (voice, tone) adoucir, radoucir; (colour, light, sound) adoucir, atténuer;
∎ to soften one's voice (make less strident) parler d'une voix plus douce; (make quieter) parler moins fort
(c) (make less strict) assouplir;
∎ he has softened his stance on vegetarianism son attitude envers le végétarisme est plus modérée qu'avant
(d) (lessen → pain, emotion) soulager, adoucir, atténuer; (→ shock, effect, impact) adoucir, amoindrir; (→ opposition, resistance) réduire, amoindrir;
∎ also {{}}figurative{{}} to soften the blow amortir le choc
2 intransitive verb
(a) (butter, ground, wax) se ramollir; (skin) s'adoucir; (cloth, wool, leather) s'assouplir
(b) (become gentler → eyes, expression, voice) s'adoucir; (→ breeze, rain) s'atténuer; (→ lighting, colour) s'atténuer, s'adoucir; (→ angle, outline) s'adoucir, s'estomper
(c) (become friendlier, more receptive)
∎ to soften towards sb se montrer plus indulgent envers qn;
∎ their attitude towards immigration has softened noticeably leur position par rapport à l'immigration est nettement plus tolérante;
∎ his face softened son expression se radoucit;
∎ her heart softened at the sound of his voice elle s'attendrit en entendant sa voix
➲ soften up
1 separable transitive verb
(a) {{}}familiar{{}} (make amenable → gen) attendrir□, rendre plus souple□ ; (→ by persuasion) amadouer□ ; (→ aggressively) intimider□ ;
∎ they tried to soften us up with champagne lunches ils ont essayé de nous amadouer à coups de déjeuners au champagne;
∎ they sent in bully boys to soften the shopkeepers up ils ont envoyé des gros bras pour intimider les commerçants
(b) {{}}Military{{}} affaiblir
(c) (make softer → butter, ground, wax) ramollir; (→ skin) adoucir; (→ cloth, wool, leather) assouplir
2 intransitive verb
(a) (ground) devenir mou (molle), se ramollir; (butter, wax) se ramollir; (leather) s'assouplir; (skin) s'adoucir
(b) (become gentler → person, voice) s'adoucir;
∎ to soften up on sb faire preuve de plus d'indulgence envers qn

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