I. ˈsȯft adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sōfte, alteration of sēfte; akin to Old High German semfti soft
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : pleasing or agreeable to the senses : bringing ease, comfort, or quiet
the soft influences of home
b. : having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste
c.
(1) : not bright or glaring : subdued
(2) : having or producing little contrast or a relatively short range of tones
a soft photographic print
d. : quiet in pitch or volume
e. of the eyes : having a liquid or gentle appearance
f. : smooth or delicate in texture, grain, or fiber
soft cashmere
soft fur
g.
(1) : balmy, mild, or clement in weather or temperature
(2) : moving or falling with slight force or impact : not violent
soft breezes
2. : demanding little work or effort : easy
a soft job
3.
a. : sounding as in ace and gem respectively — used of c and g or their sound
b. of a consonant : voiced
c. : constituting a vowel before which there is a y sound or a y-like modification of a consonant or constituting a consonant in whose articulation there is a y-like modification or which is followed by a y sound (as in Russian)
4. archaic : moving in a leisurely manner
5. : rising gradually
a soft slope
6. : having curved or rounded outline : not harsh or jagged
soft hills against the horizon
7. : marked by a gentleness, kindness, or tenderness: as
a.
(1) : not harsh or onerous in character
a policy of soft competition
(2) : based on negotiation, conciliation, or flexibility rather than on force, threats, or intransigence
took a soft line during the crisis
(3) : tending to take a soft line — usually used with on
soft on dictators
soft on law and order
b. : tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging , kind
a soft answer turns away wrath — Proverbs 15:1 (Revised Standard Version)
c. : marked by mildness : unassuming , low-key
8.
a. : emotionally suggestible or responsive : impressionable
b. : unduly susceptible to influence : compliant
c. : lacking firmness or strength of character : feeble , unmanly
d. : amorously attracted or emotionally involved — used with on
has been soft on her for years
9.
a. : lacking robust strength, stamina, or endurance especially because of living in ease or luxury
grown soft and indolent
b. : weak or deficient mentally
soft in the head
10.
a. : yielding to physical pressure
b. : permitting someone or something to sink in — used of wet ground
c.
(1) : of a consistency that may be shaped or molded
(2) : capable of being spread
d. : easily magnetized and demagnetized
e. : lacking relatively or comparatively in hardness
soft iron
11. : deficient in or free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
12. : having relatively low energy
soft X-rays
13. of news : relatively less serious or significant
14. : occurring at such a speed and under such circumstances as to avoid destructive impact
soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon
15. : not protected against enemy attack
a soft aboveground launching site
soft targets
16. : biodegradable
a soft detergent
soft pesticides
17. of a drug : considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic
18. : easily polarized — used of acids and bases
19.
a. of currency : not readily convertible
b. of a loan : not secured by collateral
20.
a. : being low due to sluggish market conditions
soft prices
b. : sluggish , slow
a soft market
21. : not firmly committed
soft unreliable political support
22. : soft-core
soft porn
23.
a. : being or based on interpretive or speculative data
soft evidence
b. : utilizing or based on soft data
soft science
24. : being or using renewable sources of energy (as solar radiation, wind, or tides)
soft technologies
25. of money : contributed (as by a corporation) to a political party rather than directly to a particular candidate
• soft·ish ˈsȯf-tish adjective
• soft·ly ˈsȯf(t)-lē adverb
• soft·ness ˈsȯf(t)-nəs noun
II. adverb
Date: before 12th century
: in a soft or gentle manner : softly
III. noun
Date: 15th century
: a soft object, material, or part
the soft of the thumb