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)軟的,鬆軟的 OPP hardMy feet sank into the soft ground. 我的雙腳陷進了鬆軟的地裏。
the softest sofa and pillows 最柔軟的沙發和枕頭
Cook the onions until they go soft. 把洋蔥煮至變軟。
2 not rough 不粗糙的SOFT having a surface that is smooth and pleasant to touch 柔滑的,細嫩的 OPP rougha baby’s soft skin 嬰兒細嫩的皮膚
The fur was soft to the touch. 這皮毛摸起來很柔滑。
3 not loud 不響亮的CQUIET a soft sound or voice, or soft music, is quiet and pleasant to listen to 〔聲音、嗓音或音樂〕輕柔的,柔和的 OPP loud, harshHis voice was softer now. 他的語氣現在柔和些了。
► see thesaurus at quiet 4 colour/light 顔色/光 [only before noun]CCBRIGHT soft colours or lights are pleasant and relaxing because they are not too bright 〔顔色或燈光〕柔和的,不刺眼的 OPP brightAll the stores will be re-fitted with softer lighting. 所有這些商店都將重新安裝光照更爲柔和的照明設備。
a soft shade of peach 一種柔和的桃紅色
► see thesaurus at colour 5 no hard edges 無棱角的 not having any hard edges or sharp angles 無棱角的,線條柔和的 6 rain/wind 雨/風VIOLENT gentle and without much force 不強烈的,和緩的 7 not strict 不嚴厲的STRICT someone who is soft seems weak because they are not strict enough with other people 不夠嚴厲的,軟弱的 OPP strict, toughIf you appear to be soft, people take advantage of you. 如果你顯得軟弱,别人就會佔你的便宜。
soft onNo politician wants to seem soft on crime. 沒有一個政客願意在犯罪問題上顯得心慈手軟。
Courts have been taking a soft line (=not being strict enough) with young offenders. 法庭一直對少年犯從 輕處理。
8 sensitive 敏感的 kind, gentle, and sympathetic to other people 仁厚的,溫和的,富有同情心的 OPP hardHe has a soft heart beneath that cold exterior. 他冷漠的外表下面有一顆溫柔的心。
9 weak character 軟弱的性格 not very brave and not having a strong character 膽小的,軟弱的 OPP hardDon’t be soft – just jump! 别畏首畏尾的,跳呀!
10 sales/markets 銷售/市場 decreasing in price, value, or the amount sold 〔價格、價值或銷售量〕下降的,疲軟 的,不景氣的 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 軟貸款,低息貸款 12. soft money money that people, companies, or organizations give to political parties, rather than to a particular candidate 軟錢,軟捐款〔個人、公司或機構捐給政黨而非某個候選人的競選資金〕 13 too easy 過於容易的 informalEASY a soft job, life etc is too easy and does not involve much work or hard physical work 〔工作、生活等〕輕鬆的,容易的Mike’s found himself a soft job in the stores. 邁克在商店裏找到一份輕鬆的活兒。
soft option British EnglishBrE (=a choice that allows you to avoid difficulties or hard work) 省事[輕鬆]的選擇Taking the soft option won’t help your career to develop. 走捷徑對你事業的發展沒好處。
14 weak body 虛弱的身體 informalWEAK having a body that is not in a strong physical condition, because you do not do enough exercise 虛弱的,健康欠佳的He’d got soft after all those years in a desk job. 他幹了這麽多年的案頭工作,身體變得虛弱了。
15. water 水HCWATER soft water does not contain many minerals, so that it forms bubbles from soap easily 軟性的 16 have a soft spot for somebody LIKE somebody OR somethingto continue to like someone even when they do not behave well 偏愛某人,對某人有好感She’s always had a soft spot for Grant. 她對格蘭特一向心軟。
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 心軟好騙的人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;瘋的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! 如果你以爲我會給你50英鎊,那就太傻了!
20. be soft on somebody old-fashionedSEXY to be sexually attracted to someone 愛上某人,鐘情於某人 21 consonants 輔音 technical not sounding hard 發軟音的 —softly adverbadvShe stroked his head softly. 她溫柔地摸摸他的頭。
Music played softly in the background. 背景裏播放着柔和的音樂。
—softness noun [uncountableU]
THESAURUSsoft not hard, firm, or stiff, but easy to press 柔軟的Her skin was lovely and soft. 她的皮膚非常柔嫩動人。
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,軟的The beef was very tender. 牛肉非常嫩。
Cook the carrots until tender. 把胡蘿蔔煮到變軟。
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〕濕軟的a piece of soggy bread 一塊軟塌塌的面包
The ground was too soggy to walk on. 地上泥濘不好走。
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〕濕軟的The leaves were squishy under our feet. 樹葉在我們腳底下嘎吱作響。
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〕柔軟的,易壓扁的The peaches have gone all squashy. 桃子都變軟了。
a big squashy sofa 一張軟塌塌的大沙發
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 〔水果或蔬菜因不新鮮或煮得太久而〕爛糊的mushy pieces of banana 爛乎乎的香蕉
a few mushy carrots 幾根爛乎乎的胡蘿蔔
spongy soft and full of holes that contain air or liquid like a sponge 海綿般柔軟的His boots sank into the spongy soil. 他的靴子陷進了鬆軟的土裏。
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