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| sweet·en [ swt'n ] (past and past participle sweet·ened, present participle sweet·en·ing, 3rd person present singular sweet·ens) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb increase in sweetness: to make something taste sweet or sweeter by adding sugar or another natural or artificial substance, or become sweet or sweeter in flavor
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2. transitive verb improve taste or smell of something: to make something taste or smell more pleasant
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3. transitive verb make something more desirable: to make something more attractive, agreeable, or acceptable
  sweeten the offer
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4. transitive verb soften somebody: to make somebody kinder, gentler, friendlier, or calmer
might sweeten his temper
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5. transitive verb persuade somebody: to persuade somebody by flattery, cajolery, or bribery to accept or agree to something
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6. transitive and intransitive verb industry improve properties of something: to improve a product such as petroleum by making it less corrosive and foul-smelling, or by making its color more acceptable, or be improved in this way. Petroleum products are sweetened during refining by the removal of sulfides or the conversion of them into disulfides.
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7. transitive verb U.S. agriculture gardening lessen acidity of: to make something less acidic by adding a chemical preparation to it
He spread some lime in the garden to sweeten the soil.
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8. transitive verb U.S. finance increase value of collateral: to add securities to collateral so that its value is increased
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9. transitive verb card games increase value of pot: in poker, to add stakes to a pot remaining from a previous deal
(
informal
)
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