soften學測 L5KK [ˈsɑfən] ｜ /ˈsɑfən/
使軟化；變軟·使態度軟化；緩和·減輕衝擊；緩衝
從奶油到態度都能軟化的常考動詞
The warm bath water softened her tense shoulders after a long day.
溫熱的洗澡水讓她一整天緊繃的肩膀放鬆下來。
一個畫面：捏軟硬塊
捏軟奶油冷硬的塊狀物被捏到變軟
軟化態度強硬的話語變得委婉
緩衝撞擊軟墊接住外力，不再堅硬
義項
奶油軟化C1verb使軟化；變軟
To make the butter for the cake, you have to soften it first by leaving it at room temperature for a few hours.
要做蛋糕用的奶油，你得先把它放在室溫下幾小時使它變軟。
soften buttersoften your clothes
送花緩情C2verb使態度軟化；緩和
After their fight, he brought her flowers to soften her mood.
吵架之後，他帶花來緩和她的情緒。
soften her mood
軟墊防撞C1verb減輕衝擊；緩衝
She put cushions on the corners of the dining table to soften the impact for her young children in case they accidentally hit their heads.
她在餐桌角落放上靠墊，以減緩孩子萬一不慎撞到頭時的衝擊。
soften the impact
片語
soften the blow軟化衝擊 →讓壞消息比較不難受
fabric softener柔順產品 →讓衣物變柔軟的產品
soften your stance退讓妥協 →放寬原本強硬的立場
你會不會這樣說？
Cold butter is hard, but leaving it at room temperature will ___ it. (soften / soft)
看答案
soften
soften 是動詞，soft 是形容詞，兩者詞性不同，不可互換。
'soften the blow' 這個片語的意思最接近：(A) 使衝擊變大 (B) 讓壞消息比較不難受 (C) 讓奶油變硬
看答案
(B)
此片語出現在條目中，指讓壞消息比較不難受，而非改變奶油狀態。
字族
soft 柔軟的・softener 柔軟劑；柔順劑