soft

• adj. 软的，柔软的；温柔的，温和的；软弱的；笨的
• adv. 柔软地；温和地
• n. 柔性；柔软的东西；柔软部分

来自古英语 softe,柔软的，舒服的，来自 Proto-Germanic*samftijaz,平的，均匀的，来自*somiz, 一致的，来自 PIE*sem,一，一起，词源同 same,some,simple.引申诸相关词义。

1. lacking in hardness relatively or comparatively

2. metaphorically soft;

"my father is a soft touch"

"soft light"

"a soft rain"

"a soft Southern drawl"

"soft brown eyes"

"a soft glance"

3. of sound; relatively low in volume;

"soft voices"

"soft music"

4. easily hurt;

"soft hands"

"a baby's delicate skin"

5. used chiefly as a direction or description in music;

"the piano passages in the composition"

6. used of beverages; not containing alcohol;

"nonalcoholic beverages"

"soft drinks"

7. of speech sounds; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as `s' and `sh')

8. tolerant or lenient;

"indulgent parents risk spoiling their children"

"procedures are lax and discipline is weak"

"too soft on the children"

9. having little impact;

"an easy pat on the shoulder"

"gentle rain"

"a gentle breeze"

"a soft (or light) tapping at the window"

10. not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship;

"what a cushy job!"

"a soft job"

soft

soft: [OE] Soft goes back to a prehistoric West Germanic *samft-, which also produced German sanft ‘gentle, easy, smooth’ and Dutch zacht ‘soft’. It may go back ultimately to the prehistoric base *sōrn- ‘fitting, agreeable’, source of English seem and seemly.
=> seem, seemly

soft (adj.)

Old English softe, earlier sefte, "gentle, mild-natured; easeful, comfortable, calm, undisturbed; luxurious," from West Germanic *samfti, from Proto-Germanic *samftijaz "level, even, smooth, gentle, soft" (cognates: Old Saxon safti, Old High German semfti, German sanft; and from a variant form with -ch- for -f-, Middle Dutch sachte, Dutch zacht, German sacht), from root *som- "fitting, agreeable."

From c. 1200 of material things, "not stiff, not coarse, fine; yielding to weight." From late 14c. of wind, rain, etc. Of sounds, "quiet, not loud," from early 13c. Of words, "mild, restrained; courteous" mid-14c. From late 14c. as "indulgent," also "physically feeble; easily overcome, lacking manly courage." From 1755 of water ("relatively free from mineral salts"), from 1789 of coal. Meaning "foolish, simple, silly" is attested from 1620s; earlier "easily moved or swayed; soft-hearted, sympathetic; docile" (early 13c.). In reference to drinks, "non-alcoholic" from 1880. As an adverb, Old English softe "gently;" late 13c. as "quietly." As an interjection from 1540s.

Soft landing is from 1958 and the U.S. space program. Adjective soft-core (in reference to pornography) is from 1966 (see hardcore). Soft rock as a music style is attested from 1969. Soft sell is from 1955. Soft-shoe as a dancing style is attested from 1927. Soft-boiled is from 1757 of eggs; of persons, ideas, etc., 1930 (compare half-baked). Soft-focus (adj.) of camera shots is from 1917. The softer sex "women collectively" is from 1640s.

gentle, mild, soft, tender, moderate

这些形容词均含有"温和的，柔和的"之意。

gentle： 指温柔、亲切、优雅。常含有节制和意味。

mild： 用于人时，指天性温顺，脾气好，不放肆粗野；用于物时，主要指适度，程度上相当缓和给人以愉快感觉。

soft： 侧重柔软或安稳、光滑，使人不感到粗糙或严酷。

tender和gentle意思很接近。指人的感情细腻、温情慈爱和有同情心，侧重心理素质。也可指物的柔嫩等。

moderate： 中性词，指温和稳健，有节制，不走极端。

Top of Britons' toilet paper wish list is softness ( ' , 57%) followed by strength ( ' , 45%) and thickness ( ' , 36%).

出自-2017年6月阅读原文

This has wiped 6% off the value of the soft tissue paper market in the UK.

出自-2017年6月阅读原文

Strength, softness and thickness remain the leading indicators of toilet paper quality, with just a small proportion of consumers preferring more luxurious alternatives, such as those with flower patterns or perfume,said Mintel analyst Jack Duckett.

出自-2017年6月阅读原文

My mother, who is just shy of five feet tall, is normally incredibly soft-spoken, but on the rare occasion when she got angry, she was terrifying.

出自-2015年12月阅读原文

Caffeine, a substance found in coffee and some soft drinks, is also a drug.

出自-2015年12月听力原文

What does the author say about the so called soft subjects??

出自-2014年6月阅读原文

As part of the Kids Live Well campaign-expected to be announced nationwide Wednesday—participating restaurants must promise to offer at least one children's meal that has fewer than 600 calories(卡路里), no soft drinks and at least two items from the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins or low-fat dairy.

出自-2012年12月听力原文

Local people have also carved out over 200 caves in the soft rock and use them for everything from sacred burial places to food storage.

2019年6月四级真题（第二套）听力 Section C

Sports drinks which are often high in sugar and calories made up most of the food and drink deals, with soft drinks and fast food filling out the reminder.

出自-2016年12月听力原文

Few of us can fill up the tank without buying a few snacks, cigarettes, soft drinks or other items we can live without.

出自-2016年12月听力原文

Usually when we walk through the rain forest we hear a soft sound from all the moist leaves and organic debris on the forest floor," says ecologist Daniel Nepstad.

出自-2013年6月阅读原文

trees that are dying usually give out a soft moan

出自-2013年6月阅读原文

Perhaps most significant, according to Mannaz, is the increasing interest large companies have in more collaborative management models, such as those prevalent in Scandinavia, which seek to integrate the hard and soft aspects of leadership and encourage delegated responsibility and accountability.

出自-2011年6月阅读原文

Just before people began entering the hall, Larry dimmed the lights and turned up the sound system, which was playing soft music, hoping to create a warm personal atmosphere for the speech.

出自-2013年12月听力原文

"This study shows the importance of so-called non-cognitive' or soft skills in contributing to children's positive peer relationships, which, in turn, contribute to their academic success,"said Kenneth Dodge, director of the Duke Center for Child and Fami

2018年12月六级真题（第一套）阅读 Section C

Baskets of perfect red strawberries, the red-painted sides of the java dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes: amazing, large, soft and round red tomatoes.

2015年高考英语全国卷1 阅读理解 阅读B 原文

But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the brown's grove farm's stand, full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist.

2015年高考英语全国卷1 阅读理解 阅读B 原文

Out comes a "soft-serve" creamy dessert, to be eaten right away.

2018年高考英语全国卷2 阅读理解 阅读B 原文

To avoid knee pain, you can run on soft surfaces, do exercises to strengthen your leg muscles, avoid hills and get good running shoes.

2018年高考英语全国卷I 语法填空 原文

Beethoven’s habit of increasing the volume with an extreme intensity and then abruptly following it with a sudden soft passage was only rarely used by composers before him.

出自-2014年考研翻译原文

After all, four decades of evidence has now shown that corporations in Europe as well as the US are evading the meritocratic hiring and promotion of women to top position—no matter how much "soft pressure" is put upon them.

2013年考研真题（英语二）阅读理解 Section Ⅱ

For example, he theorised that a judge fearful of appearing too soft on crime might be more likely to send someone to prison if he had already sentenced five or six other defendants only to forced community service on that day.

2013年考研真题（英语一）完形填空 Section Ⅰ

soft margarine

软人造黄油

牛津词典

soft feather pillows

柔软的羽毛枕头

牛津词典

The grass was soft and springy.

草柔软而有弹性。

牛津词典

soft rocks such as limestone

诸如石灰岩之类的软岩

牛津词典

soft cheeses

软奶酪

牛津词典

soft skin

柔滑的皮肤

牛津词典

This season's fashions focus on warm tones and soft lines.

本季时装主要流行暖色调和柔和线条。

牛津词典

The moon's pale light cast soft shadows.

淡淡的月光投下柔和的暗影。

牛津词典

a soft pink

柔和的粉红色

牛津词典

the soft glow of candlelight

柔和的烛光

牛津词典

A soft breeze rustled the trees.

微风吹拂，树叶飒飒作响。

牛津词典

soft background music

轻柔的背景音乐

牛津词典

a soft voice

柔和悦耳的嗓音

牛津词典

Julia's soft heart was touched by his grief.

朱莉娅心肠软，见他悲伤动了恻隐之心。

牛津词典

Regular use of a body lotion will keep the skin soft and supple...

经常使用润肤露可使皮肤柔软而富有弹性。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

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

当头发干后，用柔软的婴儿用尼龙发刷梳理头发。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed...

她在柔软而舒适的床上躺了下来。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Add enough milk to form a soft dough.

加入足量的牛奶，使面团变得柔软。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

This is a smart, yet soft and feminine look.

这是一张透着精明的面孔，但是线条柔和，女人味十足。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...the soft curves of her body.

她柔和的身体曲线

柯林斯高阶英语词典

There was a soft tapping on my door...

有人在轻轻地敲我的门。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

When he woke again he could hear soft music.

他再次醒来时，听见了轻柔的音乐声。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

The president says the measure is soft and weak on criminals...

总统说这一举措对犯罪分子过于宽容，力度太小。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He had initially thought Byrnes too soft with the Russians.

原先他还以为伯恩斯对俄国人过于手软呢。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Her rather tough and worldly exterior hides a very soft and sensitive heart.

她那强硬而世故的外表下掩藏着一颗温柔而敏感的心。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

The regime at Latchmere could be seen as a soft option...

在拉奇米尔建立政权可以视为一个简便易行的选择。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

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

20 年轻松舒适的生活是绝对不可能经过首次 30 分钟的训练就能放弃的。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Women who carry cash about in the streets, as they very often have to, are a very soft target.

必须经常携带现金上街的女性特别容易受到攻击。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Terry had a soft spot for me...

特里非常疼我。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I have a soft spot for London Zoo.

我特别喜欢伦敦动物园。

柯林斯高阶英语词典