SOFT, a.

1. Easily yielding to pressure; the contrary of hard, as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth.
2. Not hard; easily separated by an edged instrument; as, soft wood. The chestnut is a soft wood, but more durable than hickory, which is a very hard wood. So we say, a soft stone, when it breaks or is hewed with ease.
3. Easily worked; malleable; as, soft iron.
4. Not rough, rugged or harsh; smooth to the touch; delicate; as, soft silk; soft raiment; a soft skin.
5. Delicate; feminine; as, the softer sex.
6. Easily yielding to persuasion or motives; flexible; susceptible of influence or passion. In both these senses, soft is applied to females, and sometimes to males; as, a divine of a soft and servile temper. – K. Charles. One king is too soft and easy. – L'Estrange.
7. Tender; timorous. However soft within themselves they are, / To you they will be valiant by despair. – Dryden.
8. Mild; gentle; kind; not severe or unfeeling; as, a person of a soft nature.
9. Civil; complaisant; courteous; as, a person of soft manners. He has a soft way of asking favors.
10. Placid; still; easy. On her soft axle while she paces even, / She bears thee soft with the smooth air along. – Milton.
11. Effeminate; viciously nice. An idle soft course of life is the source of criminal pleasures. – Broome.
12. Delicate; elegantly tender. Her form more soft and feminine. – Milton.
13. Weak; impressible. The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. [Not elegant.] – Glanville.
14. Gentle; smooth or melodious to the ear; not loud, rough or harsh; as, a soft voice or note; a soft sound; soft accents; soft whispers. – Dryden. Pope.
15. Smooth; flowing; not rough or vehement. The solemn nightingale tun'd her soft lays. – Milton. Soft were my numbers, who could take offense? – Pope.
16. Easy; quiet; undisturbed; as, soft slumbers.
17. Mild to the eye; not strong or glaring; as, soft colors; the soft coloring of a picture. The sun shining on the upper part of the clouds, made the softest lights imaginable. – Brown.
18. Mild; warm; pleasant to the feelings; as, soft air.
19. Not tinged with an acid; not hard; not astringent; as, soft water is the best for washing.
20. Mild; gentle; not rough, rude or irritating. A soft answer turneth away wrath. – Prov. xv.

Softly; gently; quietly.

for be soft, hold; stop; not so fast. But, soft, my muse, the world is wide. – Suckling.

1. 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.
2. A soft or foolish person; an idiot.
   
   
   [Colloq.] G. Eliot.
3. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.
   
   
   Chaucer.

   A knight soft riding toward them. Spenser.

4. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
   
   

   Soft, you; a word or two before you go. Shak.

5. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
   
   

   They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. Matt. xi. 8.

6. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines.
   
   
   "The soft, delicious air." Milton.
7. 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.
   
   

   The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. Sir T. Browne.

8. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
   
   

   Her voice was ever soft,
   Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. Shak.

   Soft were my numbers; who could take offense? Pope.

9. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
   
   

   I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;
   Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. Shak.

   The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. Tyndale.

10. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
    
    

    A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1.

    A face with gladness overspread,
    Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. Wordsworth.

11. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
    
    

    A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. Jer. Taylor.

12. Gentle in action or motion; easy.
    
    

    On her soft axle, white she paces even,
    And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. Milton.

13. Weak in character; impressible.
    
    

    The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. Glanvill.

14. Somewhat weak in intellect.
    
    
    [Colloq.]

    He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. Burton.

15. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
16. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
17. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.
18. 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)