gentle

B1 · Intermediate

adj. not strong, loud, or violent.

adj. moderate in force, intensity, or degree; not harsh or severe.

日本語:穏やか※

“A gentle breeze blew through the open window during the afternoon.”

“The recipe requires gentle heat to ensure the delicate sauce does not break or curdle during the reduction process.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. rising or falling slowly rather than being very steep.

adj. having a low or moderate gradient; not steep or abrupt.

日本語:緩やか※

“The path up the hill is a gentle slope that is easy to walk.”

“The road follows a gentle incline toward the summit, making it accessible for amateur cyclists despite the overall elevation gain.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to make a person or animal calm and peaceful.

v. to make someone or something calm, or to domesticate an animal through kind treatment.

“She spoke softly to the frightened horse to gentle it.”

“Years of patient interaction helped to gentle the wild stallion until it finally accepted a rider without resistance.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Cooking British English · Technical

n. a small worm or maggot used to catch fish.

n. a maggot, specifically the larva of a blowfly, used as live bait by anglers.

“The fisherman bought a tin of gentles before heading to the river.”

“Experienced anglers often prefer gentles for catching smaller river fish like roach or dace during the summer months.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic

n. a person born into a high social class or a good family.

n. a person of noble or respectable birth and social standing.

“The old stories tell of gentles and commoners working together.”

“In the medieval social hierarchy, the distinction between gentles and the peasantry was enforced by both law and custom.”