Apedia

Soft Easily Hard Margarine Feather Rocks Limestone Pleasant

Word soft
WordType (adjective)
Phonetic BrE / sɒft / NAmE / sɔːft /
Example
  • soft margarine
  • soft feather pillows
  • the grass was soft and springy.
  • soft rocks such as limestone
Sound Native audio playback is not supported.
Image
Search images by the word
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1280&bih=661&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=soft
Content

soft

(adjective)BrE / sɒft / NAmE / sɔːft /
  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
    • opposite hard
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hard_1
    • soft rocks such as limestone
    • soft cheeses
  3. smooth and pleasant to touch
    • opposite rough
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/rough_1
    • soft skin
    • a dress made from the finest, softest silk
  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.
  5. not too bright, in a way that is pleasant and relaxing to the eyes
    • opposite harsh
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/harsh
    • a soft pink
    • the soft glow of candlelight
  6. not strong or violent
    • synonym light
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/light_2
    • A soft breeze rustled the trees.
  7. not loud, and usually pleasant and gentle
    • synonym quiet
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/quiet_1
    • soft background music
    • a soft voice
  8. kind and sympathetic; easily affected by other people’s suffering
    • opposite hard
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hard_1
    • Julia's soft heart was touched by his grief.
  9. not strict or severe; not strict or severe enough
    • synonym lenient
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lenient
    • The government is not becoming soft on crime.
    • If you're too soft with these kids they'll never respect you.
  10. stupid or crazy
    • See related entries: Describing strange traits
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/describing_strange_traits/soft_2
    • He must be going soft in the head.
  11. not brave enough; wanting to be safe and comfortable
    • See related entries: Brave
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/brave/soft_4
    • Stay in a hotel? Don't be so soft. I want to camp out under the stars.
  12. not involving much work; too easy and comfortable
    • opposite hard
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hard_1
    • They had got too used to the soft life at home.
  13. not containing mineral salts and therefore good for washing
    • opposite hard
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hard_1
    • You won't need much soap—the water here is very soft.
  14. not sounding hard, for example ‘c’ in city and ‘g’ in general
    • opposite hard
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hard_1
  15. a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money.
    • Unfortunately, my father is no soft touch.
  16. to like somebody/something
    • She's always had a soft spot for you.
  17. a choice which is thought to be easier because it involves less effort, difficulty, etc.
    • They are anxious that the new course should not be seen as a soft option.
    • He decided to take the easy option and give them what they wanted.

    Extra Examples

    • The fabric has a beautifully soft texture.
    • These tomatoes have gone all soft.
    • Critics say that this soft approach to truancy has failed.
    • He chose some soft background music and lit the candles.
    • He sank back gladly into the soft feather pillows.
    • If you’re too soft with these kids they’ll never respect you.
    • It is a soft cheese with a hard rind.
    • Julia’s soft heart was touched by his grief.
    • She had a soft voice and a kind face.
    • Soft lighting is often used by restaurants to create atmosphere.
    • Soft margarine is better for you than butter or hard margarine.
    • Soft rocks such as limestone are easily eroded.
    • The kitchen was filled with the soft cosy glow of candlelight.
    • The paint needs to be thinned in order to obtain softer tones.
    • The roofs shone in the soft evening light.
    • a colour scheme of soft pink and cream

    Word Origin

    • Old English sōfte ‘agreeable, calm, gentle’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch zacht and German sanft.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Tags: s

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Software run piece noun bre ˈsɒftweə(r ˈsɔːftwer application/system

Previous card: Softly adverb bre ˈsɒftli ˈsɔːftli closed door i

Up to card list: [English] The Oxford 3000 Most Important Words