SOFT


Meaning of SOFT in English

/ sɒft; NAmE sɔːft/ adjective

( soft·er , soft·est )

NOT HARD

1.

changing shape easily when pressed; not stiff or firm :

soft margarine

soft feather pillows

The grass was soft and springy.

2.

less hard than average :

soft rocks such as limestone

soft cheeses

OPP hard

NOT ROUGH

3.

smooth and pleasant to touch :

soft skin

OPP rough

WITHOUT ANGLES / EDGES

4.

not having sharp angles or hard edges :

This season's fashions focus on warm tones and soft lines.

The moon's pale light cast soft shadows.

LIGHT / COLOURS

5.

[ usually before noun ] not too bright, in a way that is pleasant and relaxing to the eyes :

a soft pink

the soft glow of candlelight

OPP harsh

RAIN / WIND

6.

not strong or violent

SYN light :

A soft breeze rustled the trees.

SOUNDS

7.

not loud, and usually pleasant and gentle

SYN quiet :

soft background music

a soft voice

SYMPATHETIC

8.

kind and sympathetic; easily affected by other people's suffering :

Julia's soft heart was touched by his grief.

OPP hard

NOT STRICT

9.

soft (on sb/sth) | soft (with sb) (usually disapproving ) not strict or severe; not strict or severe enough

SYN lenient :

The government is not becoming soft on crime.

If you're too soft with these kids they'll never respect you.

OPP tough

CRAZY

10.

( informal , disapproving ) stupid or crazy :

He must be going soft in the head .

NOT BRAVE / TOUGH ENOUGH

11.

( informal , disapproving ) not brave enough; wanting to be safe and comfortable :

Stay in a hotel? Don't be so soft. I want to camp out under the stars.

TOO EASY

12.

( disapproving ) not involving much work; too easy and comfortable :

They had got too used to the soft life at home.

OPP hard

WATER

13.

not containing mineral salts and therefore good for washing :

You won't need much soap—the water here is very soft.

OPP hard

CONSONANTS

14.

( phonetics ) not sounding hard, for example 'c' in 'city' and 'g' in 'general'

OPP hard

►  soft·ness noun [ U , sing. ]:

the softness of her skin

the softness of the water

—see also softly

IDIOMS

- have a soft spot for sb/sth

—more at option , touch noun

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English sōfte agreeable, calm, gentle , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch zacht and German sanft .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.