tenderize
verbUK /ˈtɛndəraɪz/
US /ˈtɛndəraɪz/
To make meat softer so it is easier to chew.
She used a hammer to tenderize the steak before cooking it.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. To make something less severe or harsh.
The manager tried to tenderize the criticism with kind words.
3. To break down tough fibers in food using a tool or process.
Pounding the chicken with a mallet helps tenderize it.
4. To make a person or feeling gentler and more sympathetic.
Years of kindness tenderized his once-hard heart.