Attracted or emotionally involved: He has been soft on her for years.
Not stern; lenient.
Lacking strength of character; weak.
Informal Simple-minded; foolish.
Informal Easy: a soft job.
Based on conciliation or negotiation rather than on threats or power plays: took a soft line toward their opponents.
Gradually declining in trend; not firm: a soft economy; a soft computer market.
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Out of condition; flabby.
Smooth or fine to the touch: a soft fabric.
Not loud, harsh, or irritating: a soft voice.
Not brilliant or glaring; subdued: soft colors.
Of a gentle disposition; tender.
Affectionate: a soft glance.
Attracted or emotionally involved: He has been soft on her for years.
Not stern; lenient.
Lacking strength of character; weak.
Informal Simple-minded; foolish.
Informal Easy: a soft job.
Based on conciliation or negotiation rather than on threats or power plays: took a soft line toward their opponents.
Gradually declining in trend; not firm: a soft economy; a soft computer market.
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Not sharply drawn or delineated: soft charcoal shading; a scene filmed in soft focus.
Mild; balmy: a soft breeze.
Of a gentle disposition; tender.
Affectionate: a soft glance.
Attracted or emotionally involved: He has been soft on her for years.
Not stern; lenient.
Lacking strength of character; weak.
Informal Simple-minded; foolish.
Informal Easy: a soft job.
Based on conciliation or negotiation rather than on threats or power plays: took a soft line toward their opponents.
Gradually declining in trend; not firm: a soft economy; a soft computer market.
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Informal Easy: a soft job.
Based on conciliation or negotiation rather than on threats or power plays: took a soft line toward their opponents.
Gradually declining in trend; not firm: a soft economy; a soft computer market.
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts: limited the discussion to soft topics.
Using or based on data that is not readily quantifiable or amenable to experimental verification or refutation: The lawyer downplayed the soft evidence.
Softcore.
Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle less acute than other possible routes: a soft right.
Of or relating to a paper currency as distinct from a hard currency backed by gold.
Having low dissolved mineral content.
Having a low or lower power of penetration: soft x-rays.
Linguistics
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack: a soft target.
n.
A soft object or part.
adv.
In a soft manner; gently.
[Middle English, pleasant, calm, from Old English sōfte.]
O.E. softe "gentle, easy, comfortable," from W.Gmc. *samfti, from P.Gmc. *samftijaz "level, even, smooth, gentle, soft" (cf. O.S. safti, O.H.G. semfti, Ger. sanft, M.Du. sachte, Du. zacht), from base *som- "fitting, agreeable." Sense of "causing little hardship or suffering" attested from c.1205. Of sounds, from c.1250. Meaning "foolish, simple, silly" is attested from 1621. Adjective soft core (in ref. to pornography) is from 1966. Soft rock as a music style is attested from 1969. Soft sell is from 1955. Soft-shoe as a dancing style is attested from 1927. Soft-hearted first recorded 1593.
easily hurt; "soft hands"; "a baby's delicate skin" [syn: delicate]
5.
produced with vibration of the vocal cords; "a frequently voiced opinion"; "voiced consonants such as 'b' and 'g' and 'z'"; [syn: voiced] [ant: hard]
6.
not protected against attack (especially by nuclear weapons); "soft targets" [ant: hardened]
7.
used chiefly as a direction or description in music; "the piano passages in the composition" [syn: piano] [ant: forte]
8.
(of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected [ant: concentrated]
9.
(of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward the hard palate; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as 's' and 'sh') [ant: hard]
10.
(of a commodity or market or currency) falling or likely to fall in value; "the market for computers is soft"
11.
using evidence not readily amenable to experimental verification or refutation; "soft data"; "the soft sciences"
12.
tolerant or lenient; "indulgent parents risk spoiling their children"; "too soft on the children"; "they are soft on crime" [syn: indulgent]
13.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe; "a gentle reprimand"; "a vein of gentle irony"; "poked gentle fun at him" [syn: gentle]
14.
having little impact; "an easy pat on the shoulder"; "gentle rain"; "a gentle breeze"; "a soft (or light) tapping at the window" [syn: easy]
15.
out of condition; not strong or robust; incapable of exertion or endurance; "he was too soft for the army"; "flabby around the middle"; "flaccid cheeks"
16.
willing to negotiate and compromise
17.
not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship; "what a cushy job!"; "the easygoing life of a parttime consultant"; "a soft job" [syn: cushy]
18.
mild and pleasant; "balmy days and nights"; "the climate was mild and conducive to life or growth"; "a soft breeze" [syn: balmy]
19.
not brilliant or glaring; "the moon cast soft shadows"; "soft pastel colors"; "subdued lighting"
adverb
1.
in a relaxed manner; or without hardship; "just wanted to take it easy" ('soft' is nonstandard) [syn: easy]
Main Entry: soft Pronunciation: 'soft Function: adjective 1: yielding to physical pressure 2: deficient in or free from
substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap <soft water> 3: having relatively low energy <soft X rays> 4:BIODEGRADABLE <a soft detergent> <soft pesticides> 5of a drug: considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic <marijuana is usually regarded as a soft drug> 6: easily polarized —used of acids and bases 7
a: being or based on interpretive or speculative data <soft evidence> b: utilizing or based on soft data <soft science>
Soft\, a. [Compar. Softer; superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. s?fte, properly adv. of s?fte, adj.; akin to OS. s[=a]fto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal. 2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin. They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. --Matt. xi. 8. 3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. "The soft, delicious air." --Milton. 4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints. The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. --Sir T. Browne. 5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music. Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. --Shak. Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? --Pope. 6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind. I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. --Shak. The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. --Tyndale. 7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes. A soft answer turneth away wrath. --Prov. xv. 1. A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. --Wordsworth. 8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak. A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. --Jer. Taylor. 9. Gentle in action or motion; easy. On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. --Milton. 10. Weak in character; impressible. The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. --Glanvill. 11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.] He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. --Burton. 12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers. 13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines. 14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing. 15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to hard. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc. Soft clam (Zo["o]l.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. Soft crab (Zo["o]l.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. Soft dorsal (Zo["o]l.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. Soft palate. See the Note under Palate. Soft ray (Zo["o]l.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched. Soft soap. See under Soap. Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread. Soft tortoise (Zo["o]l.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.
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Audio Help [sawft, soft] Pronunciation Key adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb, interjection 
