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without examplesFound in 1 dictionary

The Universal Dictionary
  • dicts.lingvouniversal_en_ru.description

soften

['sɔf(ə)n] брит. / амер.

гл.

  1. смягчать, облегчать (боль, страдание); успокаивать (гнев и т. п.)

  2. смягчаться; становиться мягче, добрее, нежнее

    1. смягчать. размягчать (о физических свойствах)

    2. снижать, понижать, приглушать звук; смягчать звук

  3. становиться мягче, менее жёстким; размягчаться (о физических свойствах)

Examples from texts

He seemed to be entering a demesne which had never been touched by the sun-a place of such dark and somnolent force that even the direct radiance of the sun would not be able to soften its ancient cold.
Теперь, похоже, путешественники достигли таких глубин, куда никогда не заглядывало солнце. Со дня сотворения мира сырая мгла, свернувшаяся на дне кратера, не согревалась ни одним благодатным лучом.
Donaldson, Stephen R. / The One TreeДональдсон, Стивен Р. / Первое дерево
Первое дерево
Дональдсон, Стивен Р.
The One Tree
Donaldson, Stephen R.
© 1982 by Stephen R. Donaldson
'Don't be frightened, darling,' said Margarita, trying to soften her now raucous, harsh voice. ' It's only some boys breaking windows.'
— Не бойся, не бойся, маленький, — сказала Маргарита, стараясь смягчить свой осипший на ветру, преступный голос, — это мальчишки стекла били.
Bulgakov, Michail / The Master and MargaritaБулгаков, Михаил / Мастер и Маргарита
Мастер и Маргарита
Булгаков, Михаил
© "Мурманское книжное издательство", 1990
The Master and Margarita
Bulgakov, Michail
© Translated from the russian by Michael Glenny
© 1967 Collins and Harvill Press, London
© 1967 in the English translation
And this fact, even in the face of his previous indifference, was sufficient to soften her mood in regard to him.
И одного этого было довольно, чтобы, несмотря на его недавнее равнодушие, она снова смягчилась.
Dreiser, Theodore / An American TragedyДрайзер, Теодор / Американская трагедия
Американская трагедия
Драйзер, Теодор
© Вершинина З., перевод на русский язык, 2010
© Галь Н., перевод на русский язык, 2010
© Издание на русском языке. ООО «Издательство «Эксмо». 2010
An American Tragedy
Dreiser, Theodore
© Horace Liveright, Inc., 1925
© Helen Dreiser, 1953
© Theodore Dreiser, 1926
Ay, and so mad was I, even that night I was minded to betray thee: but I thought—not yet, not yet; to-morrow he may soften.
Меня охватило безумие, я хотела в ту же ночь выдать тебя, но все же удержалась, я убеждала себя: нет, все еще можно поправить, завтра он смягчится.
Haggard, Henry Rider / CleopatraХаггард, Генри Райдер / Клеопатра
Клеопатра
Хаггард, Генри Райдер
© ООО "РИЦ Литература", состав, 2006
© ООО "Торговый дом "Издательство Мир книги", 2006
Cleopatra
Haggard, Henry Rider
© 2010 by Indo-European Publishing
"Now listen, Clyde," continued Jephson, having, as he had just seen, failed to soften the mood of the throng, "you cared for your mother, did you?—or didn't you?"
- Послушайте, Клайд, - продолжал Джефсон, поняв, что ему не удалось смягчить настроение толпы, - вы ведь любили свою мать, не так ли?
Dreiser, Theodore / An American TragedyДрайзер, Теодор / Американская трагедия
Американская трагедия
Драйзер, Теодор
© Вершинина З., перевод на русский язык, 2010
© Галь Н., перевод на русский язык, 2010
© Издание на русском языке. ООО «Издательство «Эксмо». 2010
An American Tragedy
Dreiser, Theodore
© Horace Liveright, Inc., 1925
© Helen Dreiser, 1953
© Theodore Dreiser, 1926
It is possible to use a mixture of solvents, for example, for preparing medications used in pediatrics to soften the effect of the composition.
Возможно использование смеси растворителей, например, при изготовлении лекарственных средств, применяемых в педиатрии, для смягчения действия композиции.
Her woman’s heart was not adamant, and this last lesson of love sufficed to soften it.
Женское сердце не камень, и последнего урока, преподанного любовью, оказалось достаточно, чтобы смягчить его.
Poe, Edgar Allan / The Premature BurialПо, Эдгар Аллан / Преждевременные похороны
Преждевременные похороны
По, Эдгар Аллан
© Издательство "Наука", 1970
The Premature Burial
Poe, Edgar Allan
© Wordsworth Editions 2004
The sale of the stakes in strategic enterprises may soften macroeconomic problems for a time.
Продажа пакетов акций стратегических предприятий может решить макроэкономические проблемы на определенном временном промежутке.
© 2000-2007 Исследовательский центр ИПМ
© 2000-2007 IPM Research Center
He looked like a lumberjack just starting to soften into retirement.
Выглядел Гаффни как лесопильщик, готовый уйти на пенсию.
King, Stephen / The LangoliersКинг, Стивен / Лангольеры
Лангольеры
Кинг, Стивен
© Stephen King, 1990
© Перевод. В.А. Вебер, 1997
© "Фирма "Издательство АСТ"", 1999
The Langoliers
King, Stephen
© Stephen King, 1990
But at least there will be, as you say, no misunderstanding, while the openness of my confession will soften, I hope, the feeling of offense which you cannot but feel."
По крайней мере, не будет, как вы говорите, недоразумений, а откровенность моего признания, я надеюсь, уменьшит то чувство оскорбления, которое вы не можете не ощутить.
Тургенев, И.С. / ДымTurgenev, I.S. / Smoke
Smoke
Turgenev, I.S.
© 1919, by BONI & LIVERIGHT, Inc.
Дым
Тургенев, И.С.
© Издательство "Правда", 1979
To soften the last words, she stroked his head and said: "You're not good-looking, but you're a dear."
Чтобы смягчить последние слова, она погладила его по щеке и сказала: - Ты не красив, но ты славненький.
Чехов, А.П. / Три годаChekhov, A. / Three years
Three years
Chekhov, A.
© 2006 BiblioBazaar
Три года
Чехов, А.П.
© Издательство "Наука", 1974
Work like that has got to soften a man's head.
От такой работы крыша и едет.
King, Stephen / Bag of BonesКинг, Стивен / Мешок с костями
Мешок с костями
Кинг, Стивен
© 1998 Стивен Кинг
© 1999, АСТ
© перевод В. Вебера
Bag of Bones
King, Stephen
© 1998 by Stephen King
And then Miss Abbey, who, like all hard people when they do soften, felt that there was considerable compensation owing to her, underwent reaction and became frigid.
Тут мисс Аби, как бывает обычно с суровыми людьми, когда они смягчаются, вдруг спохватилась, что она слишком уж расчувствовалась, и, решив, что ей следует наверстать это упущение, стала вдруг очень холодна. -
Dickens, Charles / Our Mutual FriendДиккенс, Чарльз / Наш общий друг
Наш общий друг
Диккенс, Чарльз
© Государственное издательство художественной литературы, 1960
Our Mutual Friend
Dickens, Charles
© Wordsworth Editions Limited 1997
Then, after what seemed like hours, he bent to trace the swell of her breast with his tongue, and she began to shudder and soften inside.
Через несколько секунд, казавшихся Куинн часами, Ник наклонился и провел по ее коже языком, следуя изгибу груди. Она затрепетала и обмякла.
Crusie, Jennifer / Crazy for YouКрузи, Дженнифер / Без ума от тебя
Без ума от тебя
Крузи, Дженнифер
Crazy for You
Crusie, Jennifer
© 1999 by Jennifer Crusie
Several Acts purporting to soften its harshness had been passed before Adam Smith's time; but they had been ineffective.
Несколько законодательных актов, ставивших своей целью сколько-нибудь смягчить жестокость такого режима, были приняты еще во времена Адама Смита, но они не возымели действия.
Marshall, Alfred / Principles of EconomicsМаршалл, Альфред / Принципы экономической науки
Принципы экономической науки
Маршалл, Альфред
© "Прогресс", 1993
Principles of Economics
Marshall, Alfred
© 2006 Cosimo, Inc.

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soften1/5
'sɔf(ə)nVerbсмягчать; облегчать; успокаиватьExamples

She softened her tone. — Она смягчила тон.

User translations

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Collocations

soften up
обрабатывать артогнем
soften up
обработать
soften up
подготовить
soften up
смягчить или сломить
to soften
размягчаться
soften by steam
упаривать
soften the rubber
мягчить каучук
soften water
умягчать воду
additional softening
доумягчение
age softening
разупрочнение при старении
bone softening
остеомаляция
fabric softening composition
состав, содержащий мягчитель ткани
gastric softening
гастромаляция
green softening
размягчение мозга с нагноением
heat-softened paper
термореактивная бумага

Word forms

soften

verb
Basic forms
Pastsoftened
Imperativesoften
Present Participle (Participle I)softening
Past Participle (Participle II)softened
Present Indefinite, Active Voice
I softenwe soften
you softenyou soften
he/she/it softensthey soften
Present Continuous, Active Voice
I am softeningwe are softening
you are softeningyou are softening
he/she/it is softeningthey are softening
Present Perfect, Active Voice
I have softenedwe have softened
you have softenedyou have softened
he/she/it has softenedthey have softened
Present Perfect Continuous, Active Voice
I have been softeningwe have been softening
you have been softeningyou have been softening
he/she/it has been softeningthey have been softening
Past Indefinite, Active Voice
I softenedwe softened
you softenedyou softened
he/she/it softenedthey softened
Past Continuous, Active Voice
I was softeningwe were softening
you were softeningyou were softening
he/she/it was softeningthey were softening
Past Perfect, Active Voice
I had softenedwe had softened
you had softenedyou had softened
he/she/it had softenedthey had softened
Past Perfect Continuous, Active Voice
I had been softeningwe had been softening
you had been softeningyou had been softening
he/she/it had been softeningthey had been softening
Future Indefinite, Active Voice
I shall/will softenwe shall/will soften
you will softenyou will soften
he/she/it will softenthey will soften
Future Continuous, Active Voice
I shall/will be softeningwe shall/will be softening
you will be softeningyou will be softening
he/she/it will be softeningthey will be softening
Future Perfect, Active Voice
I shall/will have softenedwe shall/will have softened
you will have softenedyou will have softened
he/she/it will have softenedthey will have softened
Future Perfect Continuous, Active Voice
I shall/will have been softeningwe shall/will have been softening
you will have been softeningyou will have been softening
he/she/it will have been softeningthey will have been softening
Future in the Past Indefinite, Active Voice
I should/would softenwe should/would soften
you would softenyou would soften
he/she/it would softenthey would soften
Future in the Past Continuous, Active Voice
I should/would be softeningwe should/would be softening
you would be softeningyou would be softening
he/she/it would be softeningthey would be softening
Future in the Past Perfect, Active Voice
I should/would have softenedwe should/would have softened
you would have softenedyou would have softened
he/she/it would have softenedthey would have softened
Future in the Past Perfect Continuous, Active Voice
I should/would have been softeningwe should/would have been softening
you would have been softeningyou would have been softening
he/she/it would have been softeningthey would have been softening
Present Indefinite, Passive Voice
I am softenedwe are softened
you are softenedyou are softened
he/she/it is softenedthey are softened
Present Continuous, Passive Voice
I am being softenedwe are being softened
you are being softenedyou are being softened
he/she/it is being softenedthey are being softened
Present Perfect, Passive Voice
I have been softenedwe have been softened
you have been softenedyou have been softened
he/she/it has been softenedthey have been softened
Past Indefinite, Passive Voice
I was softenedwe were softened
you were softenedyou were softened
he/she/it was softenedthey were softened
Past Continuous, Passive Voice
I was being softenedwe were being softened
you were being softenedyou were being softened
he/she/it was being softenedthey were being softened
Past Perfect, Passive Voice
I had been softenedwe had been softened
you had been softenedyou had been softened
he/she/it had been softenedthey had been softened
Future Indefinite, Passive Voice
I shall/will be softenedwe shall/will be softened
you will be softenedyou will be softened
he/she/it will be softenedthey will be softened
Future Perfect, Passive Voice
I shall/will have been softenedwe shall/will have been softened
you will have been softenedyou will have been softened
he/she/it will have been softenedthey will have been softened