soft /sɒft $ sɒːft/ ●●● S2 W2 adjectiveadj (comparativecomp softer, superlativesupl softest) 1 not hard 不硬 a) SOFTnot hard, firm, or stiff, but easy to press (柔)软的,松软的 OPP hard My feet sank into the soft ground. 我的双脚陷进了松软的地里。
the softest sofa and pillows 最柔软的沙发和枕头
Cook the onions until they go soft. 把洋葱煮至变软。
2 not rough 不粗糙的SOFT having a surface that is smooth and pleasant to touch 柔滑的,细嫩的 OPP rough a baby’s soft skin 婴儿细嫩的皮肤
The fur was soft to the touch. 这皮毛摸起来很柔滑。
3 not loud 不响亮的CQUIET a soft sound or voice, or soft music, is quiet and pleasant to listen to 〔声音、嗓音或音乐〕轻柔的,柔和的 OPP loud, harsh His voice was softer now. 他的语气现在柔和些了。
► see thesaurus at quiet 4 colour/light 颜色/光 [only before noun]CCBRIGHT soft colours or lights are pleasant and relaxing because they are not too bright 〔颜色或灯光〕柔和的,不刺眼的 OPP bright All the stores will be re-fitted with softer lighting. 所有这些商店都将重新安装光照更为柔和的照明设备。
a soft shade of peach 一种柔和的桃红色
► see thesaurus at colour 5 no hard edges 无棱角的 not having any hard edges or sharp angles 无棱角的,线条柔和的 6 rain/wind 雨/风VIOLENT gentle and without much force 不强烈的,和缓的 7 not strict 不严厉的STRICT someone who is soft seems weak because they are not strict enough with other people 不够严厉的,软弱的 OPP strict, tough If you appear to be soft, people take advantage of you. 如果你显得软弱,别人就会占你的便宜。
soft on No politician wants to seem soft on crime. 没有一个政客愿意在犯罪问题上显得心慈手软。
Courts have been taking a soft line (=not being strict enough) with young offenders. 法庭一直对少年犯从 轻处理。
8 sensitive 敏感的 kind, gentle, and sympathetic to other people 仁厚的,温和的,富有同情心的 OPP hard He has a soft heart beneath that cold exterior. 他冷漠的外表下面有一颗温柔的心。
9 weak character 软弱的性格 not very brave and not having a strong character 胆小的,软弱的 OPP hard Don’t be soft – just jump! 别畏首畏尾的,跳呀!
10 sales/markets 销售/市场 decreasing in price, value, or the amount sold 〔价格、价值或销售量〕下降的,疲软 的,不景气的 11. soft loan/credit money that is lent at a lower interest rate than usual, because it will be used to help people in some way 软贷款,低息贷款 12. soft money money that people, companies, or organizations give to political parties, rather than to a particular candidate 软钱,软捐款〔个人、公司或机构捐给政党而非某个候选人的竞选资金〕 13 too easy 过于容易的 informalEASY a soft job, life etc is too easy and does not involve much work or hard physical work 〔工作、生活等〕轻松的,容易的 Mike’s found himself a soft job in the stores. 迈克在商店里找到一份轻松的活儿。
soft option British EnglishBrE (=a choice that allows you to avoid difficulties or hard work) 省事[轻松]的选择 Taking the soft option won’t help your career to develop. 走捷径对你事业的发展没好处。
14 weak body 虚弱的身体 informalWEAK having a body that is not in a strong physical condition, because you do not do enough exercise 虚弱的,健康欠佳的 He’d got soft after all those years in a desk job. 他干了这么多年的案头工作,身体变得虚弱了。
15. water 水HCWATER soft water does not contain many minerals, so that it forms bubbles from soap easily 软性的 16 have a soft spot for somebody LIKE somebody OR somethingto continue to like someone even when they do not behave well 偏爱某人,对某人有好感 She’s always had a soft spot for Grant. 她对格兰特一向心软。
have a soft spot for somebody• I do have a soft spot for Britain's best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta.• Although I have a soft spot for him after his super-game Hennessy win, he does not appeal greatly as 7-2 favourite.• The reason why I have a soft spot for this notebook, he wrote. 17. a soft touch informalPERSUADE someone from whom you can easily get what you want, because they are kind or easy to deceive 心软好骗的人a soft touch• Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section.• Brad knew I was a soft touch.• Terry was such a soft touch.• My client was a soft touch.• Negotiators will need a soft touch and strong nerves.• Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b.• Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels.• And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free.• Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers.• Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life. 18. soft in the head old-fashioned very stupid or crazy 很蠢的;疯的soft in the head• I think the old woman's going soft in the head.• You're soft in the head.• She might be soft in the head about everything else, but never about money.
19 stupid 愚蠢的 British EnglishBrESTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT stupid or silly 笨的,傻的 You must be soft if you think I’ll give you fifty quid! 如果你以为我会给你50英镑,那就太傻了!
20. be soft on somebody old-fashionedSEXY to be sexually attracted to someone 爱上某人,钟情于某人 21 consonants 辅音 technical not sounding hard 发软音的 —softly adverbadv She stroked his head softly. 她温柔地摸摸他的头。
Music played softly in the background. 背景里播放着柔和的音乐。
—softness noun [uncountableU]
THESAURUSsoft not hard, firm, or stiff, but easy to press 柔软的Her skin was lovely and soft. 她的皮肤非常柔嫩动人。
tender used about meat or vegetables that are soft and easy to cut, especially because they have been well cooked 〔肉或蔬菜〕嫩的,软的The beef was very tender. 牛肉非常嫩。
Cook the carrots until tender. 把胡萝卜煮到变软。
soggy very wet and too soft, in a way that seems unpleasant – used about bread, vegetables, and the ground 〔面包、蔬菜和地面〕湿软的a piece of soggy bread 一块软塌塌的面包
The ground was too soggy to walk on. 地上泥泞不好走。
squishy soft and easy to press – used especially about fruit that is too soft, and about soft wet ground which makes a noise when you walk on it 〔尤指水果和地面〕湿软的The leaves were squishy under our feet. 树叶在我们脚底下嘎吱作响。
squashy British EnglishBrE soft and easy to press – used especially about fruit that is too soft, and about chairs that are soft and comfortable 〔尤指水果和椅子〕柔软的,易压扁的The peaches have gone all squashy. 桃子都变软了。
a big squashy sofa 一张软塌塌的大沙发
mushy used about fruit or vegetables that are very soft, wet, and unpleasant, because they are not fresh or have been cooked for too long 〔水果或蔬菜因不新鲜或煮得太久而〕烂糊的mushy pieces of banana 烂乎乎的香蕉
a few mushy carrots 几根烂乎乎的胡萝卜
spongy soft and full of holes that contain air or liquid like a sponge 海绵般柔软的His boots sank into the spongy soil. 他的靴子陷进了松软的土里。
nspringy used about something that is soft and comes back to its normal shape after being pressed or walked onspringy turf (=grass)
Her hair felt lovely and springy.
npliable /ˈplaɪəbəl/ used about a material or substance that can be bent or pressed without breaking or crackingThe clay was still pliable and not too dry.
nyielding literary used about a surface which is soft and will bend when you press ityielding flesh
COLLOCATIONS CHECK 常用搭配tender meat/vegetables
soggy ground/bread/vegetables/paper
squishy fruit/ground
squashy fruit/chair
mushy fruit/vegetables
spongy ground/texture/foam/loaf
springy hair/turf/carpet
pliable material/clay