amaciar

Senses

1. 1.

   to soften

   to make something soft or softer (fabric, meat, material)

2. 2.

   to break in

   to wear new items (shoes, clothes) until they become comfortable

3. 3.

   to tenderize

   to make meat more tender by pounding or marinating

4. 4.

   to soothe, to calm down

   to make someone or a situation less tense or aggressive (figurative)

Examples

• "Preciso amaciar essas roupas novas antes de usar."

  I need to break in these new clothes before wearing them.

• "Use amaciante para amaciar as toalhas."

  Use fabric softener to soften the towels.

• "Ela conseguiu amaciar o chefe e ele aprovou o projeto."

  She managed to soften up the boss and he approved the project.

Usage

Common in everyday contexts, especially with household items (clothes, fabrics) and cooking (meat). The noun "amaciante" (fabric softener) is derived from this verb. Often used figuratively to describe winning someone over or calming a tense situation.