1soft 
/ˈsɑ:ft/ adjective
soft·er; soft·est /ˈsɑ:ft/ adjective 1 : easy to press, bend, cut, etc. : not hard or firm
▪ a soft mattress ▪ soft cheese/dough ▪ The ground was soft after the heavy rain. ▪ Iron and lead are soft metals. — opposite hard 2 : smooth and pleasant to touch
▪ soft skin ▪ a soft silk ▪ The rabbit's fur is soft. 3 a : having a very light color : not strong or bright in color or tone
▪ soft colors ▪ The room was painted in soft pink. ▪ soft blues
b of light : not bright or harsh
▪ soft lighting [=lighting that is not too bright] ▪ the soft glow of the moon 4 a : gentle in manner : not harsh
▪ He has a soft touch. ▪ She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. ▪ We decided to take a softer approach in disciplining the children.
b : not strong or very forceful
▪ a soft [=mild, gentle] breeze ▪ A soft [=light] rain fell.
c : having a low, gentle sound
▪ a soft voice 5 : having a curved or rounded outline
▪ soft rolling hills ▪ a sweater with soft shoulder lines 6 disapproving : not strict, harsh, or critical enough
▪ The students thought their teacher was soft. ▪ You're too soft with your children. — often + on ▪ Some people accuse the mayor of being soft on crime. 7 : involving little work or effort : easy
▪ He has a pretty soft job. ▪ a soft life ▪ (chiefly Brit) Police insisted that community service work was not a soft option. 8 a : not physically strong : not muscular
▪ He had grown soft from years of inactivity.
b : not brave or tough
▪ He used to love adventure, but he has gone/gotten soft in his old age. 9 : feeling sympathy for other people : sympathetic and kind
▪ He has a soft heart. — opposite hard 10 : relating to matters that are not serious or important
▪ soft news stories — opposite hard 11 of an illegal drug : not as strong or harmful to the health as other drugs
▪ Marijuana is a soft drug. — opposite hard 12 of water : not containing many minerals and able to make bubbles with soap
▪ soft water — opposite hard 13 : sounding like the “c” in “ace” or the “g” in “gem”
▪ The “c” in “cell” is soft, but the “c” in “cabbage” is hard. ▪ the soft “g” in “general” — opposite hard
▪ a soft mattress ▪ soft cheese/dough ▪ The ground was soft after the heavy rain. ▪ Iron and lead are soft metals. — opposite hard
▪ soft skin ▪ a soft silk ▪ The rabbit's fur is soft.
▪ soft colors ▪ The room was painted in soft pink. ▪ soft blues
b of light : not bright or harsh
▪ soft lighting [=lighting that is not too bright] ▪ the soft glow of the moon
▪ He has a soft touch. ▪ She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. ▪ We decided to take a softer approach in disciplining the children.
b : not strong or very forceful
▪ a soft [=mild, gentle] breeze ▪ A soft [=light] rain fell.
c : having a low, gentle sound
▪ a soft voice
▪ soft rolling hills ▪ a sweater with soft shoulder lines
▪ The students thought their teacher was soft. ▪ You're too soft with your children. — often + on ▪ Some people accuse the mayor of being soft on crime.
▪ He has a pretty soft job. ▪ a soft life ▪ (chiefly Brit) Police insisted that community service work was not a soft option.
▪ He had grown soft from years of inactivity.
b : not brave or tough
▪ He used to love adventure, but he has gone/gotten soft in his old age.
▪ He has a soft heart. — opposite hard
▪ soft news stories — opposite hard
▪ Marijuana is a soft drug. — opposite hard
▪ soft water — opposite hard
▪ The “c” in “cell” is soft, but the “c” in “cabbage” is hard. ▪ the soft “g” in “general” — opposite hard
soft in the head
informal : stupid or crazy
▪ He's a nice old man but he's a bit soft in the head. ▪ Have you gone soft in the head? [=are you crazy?]
▪ He's a nice old man but he's a bit soft in the head. ▪ Have you gone soft in the head? [=are you crazy?]
soft on
informal + old-fashioned : attracted to (someone)
▪ I think he's a little soft on her. — see also 1soft 6 (above)
▪ I think he's a little soft on her. — see also 1soft 6 (above)
— soft·ly adverb
▪ She spoke softly but firmly. ▪ She chuckled/laughed softly. ▪ a softly lit room ▪ The ball landed softly in the grass.
▪ She spoke softly but firmly. ▪ She chuckled/laughed softly. ▪ a softly lit room ▪ The ball landed softly in the grass.
— soft·ness /ˈsɑ:ftnəs/ noun [singular]
▪ the softness of silk ▪ Her voice has a gentle softness.
/ˈsɑ:ftnəs/ noun [singular] ▪ the softness of silk ▪ Her voice has a gentle softness.
