Soft /(sŏft; 115)/

Soft

a.
  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.
  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.
  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.
    Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?
  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.
    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.
  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.
  9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
    On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.
  10. Weak in character; impressible.
    The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.
  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. 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. (Phonetics)

Phrases & Compounds

Soft clam
the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya.
Soft coal
bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal.
Soft crab
any crab which has recently shed its shell.
Soft dorsal
the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays.
Soft grass
See Velvet grass.
Soft money
paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money.
Soft mute
See Media.
Soft palate
See the Note under Palate.
Soft ray
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
any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.

Soft

n.
  1. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.]

Soft

adv.
  1. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.
    A knight soft riding toward them.

Soft

interj.
  1. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
    Soft, you; a word or two before you go.