soft
♦♦ soft /s'ɒft, AM s'ɔːft/ (softer softest)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is soft is pleasant to touch, and not rough or hard.
Regular use of a body lotion will keep the skin soft and supple...
...warm, soft, white towels.
≠ rough
● softness [N-UNCOUNT]
The sea air robbed her hair of its softness.
2 [ADJ]
Something that is soft changes shape or bends easily when you press it.
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed...
Add enough milk to form a soft dough.
...soft cheese.
≠ hard, firm
3 [ADJ]
Something that has a soft appearance has smooth curves rather than sharp or distinct edges.
This is a smart, yet soft and feminine look.
...the soft curves of her body.
= gentle
≠ hard
● softly [ADV] ADV with v
She wore a softly tailored suit.
...a fresh, modern hairstyle which has long layers falling softly on the neck.
4 [ADJ]
Something that is soft is very gentle and has no force. For example, a soft sound or voice is quiet and not harsh. A soft light or colour is pleasant to look at because it is not bright.
There was a soft tapping on my door...
When he woke again he could hear soft music.
= gentle
● softly [ADV] ADV with v
She crossed the softly lit room...
She bent forward and kissed him softly.
5 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ on n
If you are soft on someone, you do not treat them as strictly or severely as you should do.
The president says the measure is soft and weak on criminals...
≠ hard
6 [ADJ]
If you say that someone has a soft heart, you mean that they are sensitive and sympathetic towards other people.
Her rather tough and worldly exterior hides a very soft and sensitive heart.
≠ hard
7 [ADJ]
You use soft to describe a way of life that is easy and involves very little work.
The regime at Latchmere could be seen as a soft option...
= easy
≠ hard
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
Soft drugs are drugs, such as cannabis, which are illegal but which many people do not consider to be strong or harmful.
9 [ADJ]
A soft target is a place or person that can easily be attacked.
Women who carry cash about in the streets, as they very often have to, are a very soft target.
= easy
10 [ADJ]
Soft water does not contain much of the mineral calcium and so makes bubbles easily when you use soap.
≠ hard
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you have a soft spot for someone or something, you feel a great deal of affection for them or like them a lot.
Terry had a soft spot for me...
a soft touch: see touchsoft drink (soft drinks)
[N-COUNT]
A soft drink is a cold, non-alcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice, or a fizzy drink.soft fo|cus
[N-UNCOUNT]
If something in a photograph or film is in soft focus, it has been made slightly unclear to give it a more romantic effect.
In the background, in soft focus, we see his smiling wife.soft fruit (soft fruits)
[N-VAR]
Soft fruits are small fruits with soft skins, such as strawberries and currants. (BRIT; in AM, use berries)soft fur|nish|ings
[N-PLURAL]
Soft furnishings are cushions, curtains, and furniture covers. (BRIT; in AM, use soft goods)soft goods
[N-PLURAL]
Soft goods are the same as soft furnishings. (AM)soft land|ing (soft landings)
[N-COUNT]
In economics, a soft landing is a situation in which the economy stops growing but this does not produce a recession.soft loan (soft loans)
[N-COUNT]
A soft loan is a loan with a very low interest rate. Soft loans are usually made to developing countries or to businesses in developing countries. (BUSINESS)soft porn
[N-UNCOUNT]
Soft porn is pornography that shows or describes sex, but not very violent or unpleasant sex, or not in a very detailed way.soft sell
also soft-sell
[N-SING]
A soft sell is a method of selling or advertising that involves persuading people in a gentle way rather than putting a lot of pressure on people to buy things. (BUSINESS)
I think more customers probably prefer a soft sell.
≠ hard sellsoft shoul|der (soft shoulders)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
On a busy road such as a freeway, the soft shoulder is the area at the side of the road where vehicles are allowed to stop in an emergency. (AM; in BRIT, use hard shoulder)soft skills
[N-PLURAL]
Soft skills are interpersonal skills such as the ability to communicate well with other people and to work in a team.
≠ hard skillssoft toy (soft toys)
[N-COUNT]
Soft toys are toys that are made of cloth filled with a soft material and which look like animals. (BRIT; in AM, use stuffed animal, stuffed toy)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is soft is pleasant to touch, and not rough or hard.
Regular use of a body lotion will keep the skin soft and supple...
...warm, soft, white towels.
≠ rough
● softness [N-UNCOUNT]
The sea air robbed her hair of its softness.
2 [ADJ]
Something that is soft changes shape or bends easily when you press it.
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed...
Add enough milk to form a soft dough.
...soft cheese.
≠ hard, firm
3 [ADJ]
Something that has a soft appearance has smooth curves rather than sharp or distinct edges.
This is a smart, yet soft and feminine look.
...the soft curves of her body.
= gentle
≠ hard
● softly [ADV] ADV with v
She wore a softly tailored suit.
...a fresh, modern hairstyle which has long layers falling softly on the neck.
4 [ADJ]
Something that is soft is very gentle and has no force. For example, a soft sound or voice is quiet and not harsh. A soft light or colour is pleasant to look at because it is not bright.
There was a soft tapping on my door...
When he woke again he could hear soft music.
= gentle
● softly [ADV] ADV with v
She crossed the softly lit room...
She bent forward and kissed him softly.
5 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ on n
If you are soft on someone, you do not treat them as strictly or severely as you should do.
The president says the measure is soft and weak on criminals...
≠ hard
6 [ADJ]
If you say that someone has a soft heart, you mean that they are sensitive and sympathetic towards other people.
Her rather tough and worldly exterior hides a very soft and sensitive heart.
≠ hard
7 [ADJ]
You use soft to describe a way of life that is easy and involves very little work.
The regime at Latchmere could be seen as a soft option...
= easy
≠ hard
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
Soft drugs are drugs, such as cannabis, which are illegal but which many people do not consider to be strong or harmful.
9 [ADJ]
A soft target is a place or person that can easily be attacked.
Women who carry cash about in the streets, as they very often have to, are a very soft target.
= easy
10 [ADJ]
Soft water does not contain much of the mineral calcium and so makes bubbles easily when you use soap.
≠ hard
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you have a soft spot for someone or something, you feel a great deal of affection for them or like them a lot.
Terry had a soft spot for me...
a soft touch: see touchsoft drink (soft drinks)
[N-COUNT]
A soft drink is a cold, non-alcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice, or a fizzy drink.soft fo|cus
[N-UNCOUNT]
If something in a photograph or film is in soft focus, it has been made slightly unclear to give it a more romantic effect.
In the background, in soft focus, we see his smiling wife.soft fruit (soft fruits)
[N-VAR]
Soft fruits are small fruits with soft skins, such as strawberries and currants. (BRIT; in AM, use berries)soft fur|nish|ings
[N-PLURAL]
Soft furnishings are cushions, curtains, and furniture covers. (BRIT; in AM, use soft goods)soft goods
[N-PLURAL]
Soft goods are the same as soft furnishings. (AM)soft land|ing (soft landings)
[N-COUNT]
In economics, a soft landing is a situation in which the economy stops growing but this does not produce a recession.soft loan (soft loans)
[N-COUNT]
A soft loan is a loan with a very low interest rate. Soft loans are usually made to developing countries or to businesses in developing countries. (BUSINESS)soft porn
[N-UNCOUNT]
Soft porn is pornography that shows or describes sex, but not very violent or unpleasant sex, or not in a very detailed way.soft sell
also soft-sell
[N-SING]
A soft sell is a method of selling or advertising that involves persuading people in a gentle way rather than putting a lot of pressure on people to buy things. (BUSINESS)
I think more customers probably prefer a soft sell.
≠ hard sellsoft shoul|der (soft shoulders)
[N-COUNT] usu the N in sing
On a busy road such as a freeway, the soft shoulder is the area at the side of the road where vehicles are allowed to stop in an emergency. (AM; in BRIT, use hard shoulder)soft skills
[N-PLURAL]
Soft skills are interpersonal skills such as the ability to communicate well with other people and to work in a team.
≠ hard skillssoft toy (soft toys)
[N-COUNT]
Soft toys are toys that are made of cloth filled with a soft material and which look like animals. (BRIT; in AM, use stuffed animal, stuffed toy)