Definition of "soften"

soften

/ˈsɒfən/

verb
third-person singular simple present softens, present participle softening, simple past and past participle softened
1. (transitive) To make something soft or softer.
2. (transitive) To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
3. (transitive) To make less harsh
  Quotations
  I have recently reclad the south-west facing side of my single-storey cottage […] . I now want to plant some climbers of more manageable proportions to soften the building.
  2015 February 7, Helen Yemm, “Thorny problems: How can I soften a brick wall with plants?”, in The Daily Telegraph (London)‎, page G7
4. (intransitive) To become soft or softer
5. (transitive, intransitive, phonology) To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.
6. (Slavic phonology) To palatalize.