soften > define

verb

• Make (images or sounds) soft or softer.
• Lessen in force or effect.
  • usage: "soften a shock"; "break a fall"
  • synonyms: dampen, damp, weaken, break
• Give in, as to influence or pressure.
  • synonyms: yield, relent
• Protect from impact.
  • usage: "cushion the blow"
  • synonyms: cushion, buffer
• Make less severe or harsh.
  • usage: "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears"
  • synonyms: mince, moderate
• Make soft or softer.
  • usage: "This liquid will soften your laundry"
• Become soft or softer.
  • usage: "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it"

• (v.i.) To become soft or softened or less rude, harsh, severe or obdurate.
• (v.t.) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.
• (v.t.) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.
• (v.t.) To make soft or more soft.
• (v.t.) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault.
• (v.t.) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture.
• (v.t.) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.
• (v.t.) To make less harsh or grating or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.
• (v.t.) To render less hard; -- said of matter.
• (v.t.) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive or less violent or to render of an opposite quality.