soft

adjective

• 1easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch:soft margarine the ground was soft beneath their feet
• having a smooth surface or texture; not rough or coarse:soft crushed velvet her hair felt very soft
• (of a person) weak and lacking courage:soft southerners
• (of a market, currency, or commodity) falling or likely to fall in value: now a new factor looms: soft oil prices the rouble, so soft that it buys nothing worth having

• 2having a pleasing quality involving a subtle effect or contrast rather than sharp definition:the soft glow of the lamps the moon’s pale light cast soft shadows
• (of a voice or sound) quiet and gentle:they spoke in soft whispers
• not strong or violent:a soft breeze rustled the trees
• dialect (of the weather) rainy, moist, or thawing.

• 3sympathetic, lenient, or compassionate, especially to a degree perceived as excessive; not strict or sufficiently strict:the government is not becoming soft on crime Julia’s soft heart was touched by his grief
• (of words or language) not harsh or angry; conciliatory; soothing:he was no good with soft words, gentle phrases
• willing to compromise in political matters:candidates ranging from far right to soft left
• informal (of a job or way of life) requiring little effort.

• 4(of a drink) not alcoholic.
• (of a drug) not likely to cause addiction.
• (of radiation) having little penetrating power.
• (of a detergent) biodegradable.
• (also soft-core) (of pornography) suggestive or erotic but not explicit.

• 5(of water) free from mineral salts that make lathering difficult.

• 6 informal foolish; silly:he must be going soft in the head
• (soft on) informal infatuated with:was Brendan soft on her?

• 7(of a consonant) pronounced as a fricative (as c in ice).

adverb

• 1in a quiet or gentle way:I can just speak soft and she’ll hear me

• 2 informal in a weak or foolish way:don’t talk soft