Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
968,370,434 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

softness

   Also found in: Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
soft  (sôft, sft)
adj. soft·er, soft·est
1.
a. Easily molded, cut, or worked.
b. Yielding readily to pressure or weight.
2. Out of condition; flabby.
3. Smooth or fine to the touch: a soft fabric.
4.
a. Not loud, harsh, or irritating: a soft voice.
b. Not brilliant or glaring; subdued: soft colors.
5. Not sharply drawn or delineated: soft charcoal shading; a scene filmed in soft focus.
6. Mild; balmy: a soft breeze.
7.
a. Of a gentle disposition; tender.
b. Affectionate: a soft glance.
c. Attracted or emotionally involved: He has been soft on her for years.
d. Not stern; lenient.
e. Lacking strength of character; weak.
f. Informal Simple; feeble.
g. Gradually declining in trend; not firm: a soft economy; a soft computer market.
8.
a. Informal Easy: a soft job.
b. Based on conciliation or negotiation rather than on threats or power plays: took a soft line toward their opponents.
9. Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts: limited the discussion to soft topics.
10. Using or based on data that is not readily quantifiable or amenable to experimental verification or refutation: The lawyer downplayed the soft evidence.
11. Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle less acute than other possible routes: a soft right.
12. Of or relating to a paper currency as distinct from a hard currency backed by gold.
13. Having low dissolved mineral content.
14. Having a low or lower power of penetration: soft x-rays.
15. Linguistics
a. Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
b. Voiced and weakly articulated: a soft consonant.
c. Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
16. Unprotected against nuclear attack: soft missile launching sites; a soft target.
n.
A soft object or part.
adv.
In a soft manner; gently.

[Middle English, pleasant, calm, from Old English sfte.]

softly adv.
softness n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.softness - the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
consistency, eubstance, consistence, body - the property of holding together and retaining its shape; "wool has more body than rayon"; "when the dough has enough consistency it is ready to bake"
compressibility, squeezability, sponginess - the property of being able to occupy less space
downiness, featheriness, fluffiness - a light softness
flabbiness, flaccidity, limpness - a flabby softness
mushiness, pulpiness - a mushy pulpy softness
hardness - the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched; measured on Mohs scale
2.softnesssoftness - poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
health problem, ill health, unhealthiness - a state in which you are unable to function normally and without pain
debility, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity, valetudinarianism - the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
disability, disablement, handicap, impairment - the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"
3.softness - the quality of weather that is deliciously mild and soothing; "the day's heat faded into balminess"; "the climate had the softness of the south of France"
clemency, mildness - good weather with comfortable temperatures
4.softness - a state of declining economic condition; "orders have recently picked up after a period of extreme softness"; "he attributes the disappointing results to softness in the economy"
economic condition - the condition of the economy
5.softness - a sound property that is free from loudness or stridency; "and in softness almost beyond hearing"
sound property - an attribute of sound
faintness - barely audible
decrescendo, diminuendo - (music) a gradual decrease in loudness
pianissimo, piano - (music) low loudness
loudness, intensity, volume - the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction); "the kids played their music at full volume"
6.softness - a visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare; "the softness of the morning sky"
visual property - an attribute of vision
7.softness - acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered; "his fingers have learned gentleness"; "suddenly her gigantic power melted into softness for the baby"; "even in the pulpit there are moments when mildness of manner is not enough"
personal manner, manner - a way of acting or behaving
8.softness - the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
opaqueness, opacity - the quality of being opaque to a degree; the degree to which something reduces the passage of light
dimness, faintness - the quality of being dim or lacking contrast
vagueness - indistinctness of shape or character; "the scene had the swirling vagueness of a painting by Turner"
distinctness, sharpness - the quality of being sharp and clear
9.softness - the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him"
femininity, muliebrity - the trait of behaving in ways considered typical for women
emasculation - loss of power and masculinity
derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something
10.softness - a disposition to be lenient in judging others; "softness is not something permitted of good leaders"
indulgence, lenience, leniency - a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone; "too much indulgence spoils a child"
Translations
Spanish softness [ˈsɔftnɪs] nblandura; suavidad f
French softness [ˈsɔftnɪs] ndouceur f
German softness [ˈsɔftnɪs] soft nWeichheit f;
(gentleness) → Sanftheit f

Italian softness [ˈsɔftnɪs] ndolcezza; morbidezza

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Bold thought, untiring imagination, softness and harmony, make a true poem.
There is a softness in masculine nature, even the most brutal, which acts as a check.
It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her former favourite George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners, she believed he might have the best informed mind.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.