sweeten
See also: Sweeten
English
Etymology
Pronunciation
Verb
sweeten (third-person singular simple present sweetens, present participle sweetening, simple past and past participle sweetened)
- (transitive) To make sweet to the taste.
- to sweeten tea
- (transitive) To make (more) pleasant or to the mind or feelings.
- to sweeten life
- to sweeten friendship
- (transitive) To make mild or kind; to soften.
- to sweeten the temper
- (transitive) To make less painful or laborious; to relieve.
- to sweeten the cares of life
- 1827, John Keble, The Christian Year
- And sweeten every secret tear.
- (transitive) To soften to the eye; to make delicate.
- 1695, John Dryden, De Arte Graphica
- Correggio has made his memory immortal by the strength he has given to his figures, and by sweetening his lights and shadows, and melting them into each other.
- 1695, John Dryden, De Arte Graphica
- (transitive) To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter.
- to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected
- to sweeten the air
- (transitive) To make warm and fertile.
- to dry and sweeten soils
- (transitive) To restore to purity; to free from taint.
- to sweeten water, butter, or meat
- (transitive) To make more attractive; said of offers in negotiations.
- to sweeten the deal by increasing the price offered
- (intransitive) To become sweet.
Antonyms
- (to make warm and fertile): sour
Translations
to make sweet to the taste
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to make more attractive; said of offers in negotiations
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to become sweet
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