GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Soft , a. [Compar. Softer ; superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. sōfte, properly adv. of sēfte, adj.; akin to OS. sāfto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]
    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.
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   Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
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   They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
   Matt. xi. 8.
   
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   Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. “The soft, delicious air.” 
   Milton.
   
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   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.
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   The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable.
   Sir T. Browne.
   
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   Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
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   Her voice was ever soft,
   Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman.
   Shak.
   
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   Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?
   Pope.
   
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   Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
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   I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;
   Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine.
   Shak.
   
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   The meek or soft shall inherit the earth.
   Tyndale.
   
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   Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
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   A soft answer turneth away wrath.
   Prov. xv. 1.
   
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   A face with gladness overspread,
   Soft smiles, by human kindness bred.
   Wordsworth.
   
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   Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
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   A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering.
   Jer. Taylor.
   
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   Gentle in action or motion; easy.
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   On her soft axle, white she paces even,
   And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.
   Milton.
   
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   Weak in character; impressible.
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   The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.
   Glanvill.
   
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   Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]
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   He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad.
   Burton.
   
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   Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
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   Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
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   Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.
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   (Phonetics) (a) 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. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.
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   Soft clam (Zool.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. -- Soft crab (Zool.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zool.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. -- Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. -- Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. -- Soft palate. See the Note under Palate. -- Soft ray (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.
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2.       
   Soft , n. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.]
   G. Eliot.
   
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3.       
   Soft, adv. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.
   Chaucer.
   
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   A knight soft riding toward them.
   Spenser.
   
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4.       
   Soft, interj. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
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   Soft, you; a word or two before you go.
   Shak.
   
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