/sɒft; [US] sɔ:ft; sɔft/
adj (-er, -est)
1 changing shape easily when pressed; not hard or firm to the touch 软的; 柔软的
*soft soil, ground, mud, etc 软土、软土地面、软泥
* Warm butter is soft. 温的黄油是软的.
* She likes a soft pillow and a hard mattress. 她喜欢软枕头、硬床垫. Cf 参看 hard1.
2 (of surfaces) smooth and delicate to the touch （指物体的表面）光滑柔软的, 细腻的, 柔嫩的
*as soft as velvet 像丝绒一般柔滑的
* soft skin 细嫩的皮肤
* soft furnishings, ie curtains, hangings, rugs, etc 软家具（帘幕、悬挂式陈设、小地毯等）
* Our cat has very soft fur. 我们那只猫的毛非常柔滑.
3 [usu attrib 通常作定语] (of light, colours, etc) not bright or glaring （指光线、色彩等）柔和的, 不耀眼的
*a soft pink rather than a harsh red 柔和的粉红色而不是刺眼的大红色
* lampshades that give a soft light 使光线柔和的灯罩
* the soft glow of candlelight 蜡烛发出的柔光.
4 (of outlines) not sharp or clear; indistinct （指轮廓）不清晰的, 模糊的.
5 (of winds, etc) mild and gentle （指风等）温和的, 微的, 细的
*soft summer winds 夏日的轻风
* a soft sea breeze 温和的海风.
6 (of sounds) quiet and subdued; not loud （指声音）轻柔的; 低声的
*soft music 轻柔的乐曲
* in a soft voice 轻声地
* soft whispers 低声细语.
7 (infml 口) (of words, answers, etc) not harsh or angry; gentle; mild （指言语、回答等）温和的, 柔和的, 不刺耳的
*His reply was soft and calm. 他回答得平和从容.
8 ~ (on sth/with sb) sympathetic and kind, sometimes to too great an extent （有时过分）有同情心的, 心肠软的
*have a soft heart 有一副软心肠
* That teacher is too soft with his class; they're out of his control. 那位教师对学生太软了, 他们都不听他的.
9 (infml derog 口, 贬) weak and childish; lacking in determination, courage, etc 软弱娇气的; 不果断的; 缺乏勇气的
*Don't be so soft there's nothing to be afraid of. 别这么窝囊, 没什么可怕的嘛.
10 (infml derog 口, 贬) foolish or silly; mad 傻的; 蠢的; 疯狂的
*He's gone soft in the head. 他傻头傻脑的.
11 ~ on/about sb (infml 口) feeling attraction for sb; in love with sb 倾心于某人; 爱上某人.
12 (infml derog 口, 贬) not requiring hard work; without problems 不费力的; 不困难的; 轻松的
*a soft job, ie an easy, well-paid job 轻松而待遇优厚的工作
* He has a very soft life really. 他日子过得实在是很悠闲.
13 (of consonants) not hard; not plosive （指辅音）软的, 不爆发的; （指辅音字母）发软音的
*C is soft in `city' and hard in `cat'. c字母在city一字中发软音而在cat一字中发硬音.
* G is soft in `gin' and hard in `get'. g字母在gin一字中发软音而在get一字中发硬音.
14 (of drink) not alcoholic （指饮料）软的（不含酒精的）
*Would you like some wine or something soft? 你是喝葡萄酒呢, 还是来点儿软饮料呢?
* I'd prefer a soft drink. 我喜欢喝软饮料.
15 (of water) free from mineral salts and therefore good for washing （指水）软性的（不含矿盐, 适合洗涤用的）
*Don't use much soap powder the water here is very soft. 肥皂粉别用得太多, 这儿的水很软.
16 (idm 习语) an easy/a soft touch => touch2. the hard/soft sell => sell n. have a soft `spot for sb/sth (infml 口) be specially fond of sb/sth 偏爱某人[某事物]
*I've always had a real soft spot for him. 我一向对他挺有好感.

adj comparativesoftersuperlativesoftest

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1【not hard】
2【not rough】
3【not loud】
4【colour/light】
5【no hard edges】
6【rain/wind】
7【not strict】
8【sensitive】
9【weak character】
10【sales/markets】
11 soft loan/credit
12 soft money
13【too easy】
14【weak body】
15【water】
16 have a soft spot for somebody
17 a soft touch
18 soft in the head
19【stupid】
20 be soft on somebody
21【consonants】

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[Language: Old English;Origin: softe]
【NOT HARD】
a) not hard, firm, or stiff, but easy to press
≠ hard
　My feet sank into the soft ground.
　the softest sofa and pillows
　Cook the onions until they go soft .
b) less hard than average
≠ hard
　a soft lead pencil
　soft cheese
【NOT ROUGH】
having a surface that is smooth and pleasant to touch
≠ rough
　a baby's soft skin
　The fur was soft to the touch.
【NOT LOUD】
a soft sound, voice, or music is quiet and pleasant to listen to
≠ loud, harsh harsh
　soft music
　His voice was softer now.
【COLOUR/LIGHT】 [only before noun]
soft colours or lights are pleasant and relaxing because they are not too bright
≠ bright
　All the stores will be re-fitted with softer lighting.
　a soft shade of peach
【NO HARD EDGES】
not having any hard edges or sharp angles
　soft curves
【RAIN/WIND】
gentle and without much force
　a soft breeze
　soft rain
【NOT STRICT】
someone who is soft seems weak because they are not strict enough with other people
≠ strict, tough tough
　If you appear to be soft, people take advantage of you.
soft on
　No politician wants to seem soft on crime .
　Courts have been taking a soft line (=not being strict enough) with young offenders.
【SENSITIVE】
kind, gentle, and sympathetic to other people
≠ hard
　He has a soft heart beneath that cold exterior.
　a soft kiss
【WEAK CHARACTER】
not very brave and not having a strong character
≠ hard
　Don't be soft - just jump!
【SALES/MARKETS】
decreasing in price, value, or the amount sold
　soft oil prices
soft loan/credit
money that is lent at a lower interest rate than usual, because it will be used to help people in some way
soft money
money that people, companies, or organizations give to political parties, rather than to a particular candidate
【TOO EASY】informal
a soft job, life etc is too easy and does not involve much work or hard physical work
　Mike's found himself a soft job in the stores.
soft option
BrE (=a choice that allows you to avoid difficulties or hard work)
　Taking the soft option won't help your career to develop.
【WEAK BODY】informal
having a body that is not in a strong physical condition, because you do not do enough exercise
　He'd got soft after all those years in a desk job.
【WATER】
soft water does not contain many minerals, so that it forms bubbles from soap easily
have a soft spot for sb
to continue to like someone even when they do not behave well
　She's always had a soft spot for Grant.
a soft touchinformal
someone from whom you can easily get what you want, because they are kind or easy to deceive
soft in the head
old-fashioned very stupid or crazy
【STUPID】
BrE stupid or silly
　You must be soft if you think I'll give you fifty quid!
be soft on sb
old-fashioned to be sexually attracted to someone
【CONSONANTS】
technical not sounding hard
　a soft g
>softlyadv
　She stroked his head softly.
　Music played softly in the background.
>softnessn[U]

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WORD FOCUS: soft
soft and pleasant to touch: velvety, fluffy, silky
soft and easily crushed: squashy, squishy
soft and wet: mushy, squelchy(BrE informal)
soft and good to eat: tender

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