soften

Từ điển Việt Anh Việt 4in1 - English Vietnamese 4 in 1 Dictionary

soft‧en /ˈsɒfən $ ˈsɒː-/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑softness, ↑softener, SOFTIE/SOFTY; verb: ↑soften; adverb: ↑softly; adjective: ↑soft]
1. (also soften up) to become less hard or rough, or make something less hard or rough OPP harden:
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 OPP harden:
The government has softened its stance on public spending.
soften towards
I felt that he was beginning to soften towards me.
3. to make the effect of something seem less unpleasant or severe, or to become less unpleasant or severe
soften the blow/impact
The impact of the tax was softened by large tax-free allowances.
4. if your expression or voice softens, or if something softens it, you look or sound kinder and more gentle OPP harden:
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.
soften somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb
1. 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.
2. to make an enemy weaker so that they are easier to attack:
Use artillery to soften up the enemy forces.
3. to make something less hard or rough

softenhu

◎	['sɔfn]
※	ngoại động từ
	■	làm cho mềm (nước cứng..)
	■	làm cho dịu
		☆	curtains that soften the light
			màn che ánh sáng dịu bớt
	■	làm mềm lòng, làm nhụt chí; làm cho yếu đi
		☆	to soften someone's will
			làm yếu quyết tâm của ai
※	nội động từ
	■	trở nên mềm
	■	yếu đi, dịu đi
	■	trở thành uỷ mị, trở thành ẻo lả
		☆	to soften at the sight of something
			mủi lòng khi nhìn thấy cái gì

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  mince, moderate, cushion, buffer, yield, relent, dampen, damp, weaken, break
• Từ trái nghĩa / Antonyms:
  harden, indurate, stand, remain firm, sharpen