| 释义 |
soft·enBrE /ˈsɒfn/NAmE /ˈsɔːfn/ verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they soften BrE /ˈsɒfn/ NAmE /ˈsɔːfn/present simple - he / she / it softens BrE /ˈsɒfnz/ NAmE /ˈsɔːfnz/past simple softened BrE /ˈsɒfnd/ NAmE /ˈsɔːfnd/past participle softened BrE /ˈsɒfnd/ NAmE /ˈsɔːfnd/ -ing form softening BrE /ˈsɒfnɪŋ/ NAmE /ˈsɔːfnɪŋ/ [I, T] to become, or to make sth softer （使）变软，软化◆Fry the onions until they soften. 把洋葱炒软。◆~ stha lotion to soften the skin 润肤露◆Linseed oil will soften stiff leather. 亚麻籽油可软化僵硬的皮革。 [I, T] ~ (sth) to become or to make sth less bright, rough or strong （使）柔和，和缓◆Trees soften the outline of the house. 树木使房子的轮廓显得柔和。 [I, T] to become or to make sb/sth more sympathetic and less severe or critical （使）态度缓和，变温和，变宽厚◆She felt herself softening towards him. 她感觉自己对他逐渐温和起来。◆His face softened as he looked at his son. 他看着儿子，紧绷的面孔松弛下来。◆~ sb/sthShe softened her tone a little. 她稍稍缓和了一下语气。 [T] ~ sthto reduce the force or the unpleasant effects of sth 减轻；减缓；削弱 SYN cushion ◆Airbags are designed to soften the impact of a car crash. 气囊用来减轻汽车碰撞的冲击力。 Silent letters gnarled, gnash, gnat, gnaw, gnome haute cuisine, heir, (NAmE herb), honour, hors d’oeuvre, hour knack, knee, kneel, knife, knight, knit, knob, knock, knot, know, knuckle psalm, psephology, psychic, ptarmigan, pterodactyl, psychology wrangle, wrap, wreath, wreck, wrench, wrestle, wriggle, wring, write, wrong bomb, climb, crumb, doubt, lamb, limb ascent, fascinate, muscle, scene, scissors height, right, sleigh, weight align, campaign, design, foreign, malign, reign, unfeigned balmy, calm, calf, half, yolk autumn, column, condemn, damn, hymn, solemn bristle, fasten, listen, mortgage, soften, thistle, wrestle biscuit, build, circuit, disguise, guilty, league, rogue, vague yacht answer, sword, two  ●soften/cushion the ˈblowto make sth that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept 缓解；缓和 ●ˌsoften sb↔ˈup(informal) to try to persuade sb to do sth for you by being very nice to them before you ask them 打动；诱导；拉拢◆Potential customers are softened up with free gifts before the sales talk. 谈生意之前，先送给潜在的客户一些赠品，以联络感情。to make an enemy weaker and easier to attack 削弱，瓦解（敌人力量） |