adoucir
Meanings
Verb
1. (of foods, flavors, scents, etc.) to sweeten (transitive)
2. (of any unpleasant thing) to make (more) agreeable, pleasant, mild, delicate, etc. (transitive; figurative, figuratively, transitive)
3. (of something physically rough or coarse) to soften, to smooth (transitive)
4. (of water) to soften (transitive)
5. to soften, to make more delicate; (of colors, as in visual arts like painting) to lighten, to brighten (transitive; figurative, figuratively, transitive)
6. to appease; to calm; to make less angry or aggressive (transitive; figuratively, figuratively, transitive)
7. to become sweeter; to become milder (pronominal)
8. to become more pleasant or agreeable (pronominal; figurative, figuratively)
Examples9
Il existe plusieurs méthodes pour adoucir l'eau.
Several methods exist for softening water.
adoucir la douleur
to soften the pain
La sauce est trop salée ; je vais l'adoucir un peu.
The sauce is too salty; I'll sweeten it a bit.
Sa voix s'adoucit.
Her voice grew soft.
Comme le bon vin, les femmes s'adoucissent avec l'âge.
Like good wine, women mellow when they age.
La musique adoucit les mœurs.
Music has charms to soothe the savage breast.