soft

soft
[[t]sɒ̱ft, AM sɔ͟ːft[/t]]
♦♦
softer, softest
1) ADJ-GRADED 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...

When it's dry, brush the hair using a soft, nylon baby brush.

...warm, soft, white towels.

Ant:
Derived words:
softness N-UNCOUNT

The sea air robbed her hair of its softness.

2) ADJ-GRADED 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.

Ant:
hard, firm
3) ADJ-GRADED 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.

Syn:
Ant:
Derived words:
softly ADV-GRADED ADV with v

She wore a softly tailored suit.

...a fresh, modern hairstyle which has long layers falling softly on the neck.

4) ADJ-GRADED 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.

...a soft Irish accent.

...soft muted colours...

A soft spring rain had fallen all day.

Syn:
Ant:
Derived words:
softly ADV-GRADED ADV with v

`I'm sorry,' he said softly...

She crossed the softly lit room...

She bent forward and kissed him softly.

5) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ on n (disapproval) 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...

He had initially thought Byrnes too soft with the Russians.

Ant:
6) ADJ-GRADED (approval) 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.

Syn:
Ant:
7) ADJ-GRADED 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...

There is no way that 20 years of soft living could be lost in the first 30 minutes' exercise.

Syn:
Ant:
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-GRADED A soft target is a place or person that can easily be attacked.

It sums these terrorists up when they go after such soft targets.

Syn:
10) ADJ-GRADED Soft water does not contain much of the mineral calcium and so makes bubbles easily when you use soap.
Ant:
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.
a soft touch → see touch

Terry had a soft spot for me...

I have a soft spot for London Zoo.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • soft — soft …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • soft — W2S2 [sɔft US so:ft] adj comparative softer superlative softest ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(not hard)¦ 2¦(not rough)¦ 3¦(not loud)¦ 4¦(colour/light)¦ 5¦(no hard edges)¦ 6¦(rain/wind)¦ 7¦(not strict)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Soft — (s[o^]ft; 115), a. [Compar. {Softer} (s[o^]ft [ e]r); superl. {Softest}.] [OE. softe, AS. s[=o]fte, properly adv. of s[=e]fte, adj.; akin to OS. s[=a]fto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • soft´ly — soft «sft, soft», adjective, adverb, noun, interjection. –adj. 1. a) not hard; yielding readily to touch or pressure: »a soft tomato, soft ground, a soft bed. b) easily bent without breaking; not stiff; flexible: »Oil keeps leather soft.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • soft — [ sɔft ] adjective *** ▸ 1 not stiff/firm/rough ▸ 2 gentle/pleasant ▸ 3 kind/sympathetic/gentle ▸ 4 not difficult ▸ 5 about water ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) a soft substance is easy to press or shape and is not hard or firm: George tripped, falling into… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • soft — [sɒft ǁ sɒːft] adjective 1. COMMERCE soft goods are used up soon after they are bought, for example food products: • Ohio s manufacturing base covers a wide range of soft and hard goods. • a soft commodity trader 2. FINANCE soft loans or soft… …   Financial and business terms

  • soft — adj Soft, bland, mild, gentle, smooth, lenient, balmy are applied to things with respect to the sensations they evoke or the impressions they produce and mean pleasantly agreeable because devoid of all harshness or roughness. Soft is applied… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • soft — [sôft, säft] adj. [ME < OE softe, gentle, quiet < sefte, akin to Ger sanft < IE base * sem , together, together with > SMOOTH, SAME: basic sense “fitting, friendly, suited to”] 1. giving way easily under pressure, as a feather pillow… …   English World dictionary

  • soft — agg.inv. ES ingl. {{wmetafile0}} 1. che ha caratteri o toni sfumati, tenui, attenuati: film soft, illuminazione soft, arredamento dalla linea soft 2. che comunica sensazioni gradevoli, piacevoli o rilassanti: musica soft, atmosfera, ambiente soft …   Dizionario italiano

  • soft — sȯft adj 1) yielding to physical pressure 2) deficient in or free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap <soft water> 3) having relatively low energy <soft X rays> 4) BIODEGRADABLE <soft… …   Medical dictionary

  • soft — Adj weich, sanft per. Wortschatz fremd. Erkennbar fremd (20. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. soft, das mit sanft verwandt ist. Unter Software werden in der EDV Technik die nicht unmittelbar zu den Geräten gehörigen Gebrauchsteile (Programme usw …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

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